Spotted possum, also known as short-tailed spotted possum, is a genus of spotted possums in the family Possumidae. It is a marsupial species found in Australia and New Guinea. It is the size of a domestic cat, with a body length of 35-65 cm, a tail length of 32-60 cm, and a weight of 1.5-6 kg. Locals often treat them as pets and refer to them as Cascas, and their fur is often used as a material for making traditional costumes. Nocturnal, foraging at night, resting in trees during the day. It can mate and breed all year round, and females have baby bags.
The head is round , the ears are small and hidden , and the eyes are yellow and orange to red. The fur is thick and the tail can help climb trees. Strong limbs with five toes. All the toes of the front and rear feet, except for the first toe, have curved claws. The first and second toes of the forefoot are opposite to the other three toes and can help them grasp branches as they climb trees. The skin of the second and third toe joints of the hind feet is fused, but the claws are separated, and these tiny claws can be used to clean themselves. The soles of the feet are hairless and striated, and can also help grasp branches and food.
The fur of the spotted possum varies with age, sex and distribution. Males are generally grey or brown with spots on the back and white abdomen. Females, on the other hand, are generally white or grey and have no spots. There are also some males and females who are completely white. Pups undergo a series of colour shifts before sexual maturity from 1 to 1 year, with coat colours of red, white, pale yellow, brown, light grey and black. There are no spots on the back of the pups. The tail of the spotted possum is unique. The tail is hairy near the body, while the inside of the tip is scaly.