For a very long time the only land mammals that shared thier habitats with New Zealand birds, frogs and lizards were bats. Because of their isolation, New Zealand animals were not well-adapted to live alongside aggressive mammalian predators. Unfortunately for New Zealand native animals, humans have introduced many 'invasive' and destructive mammals into New Zealand. The brushtail possum (Trichisurus vulpecula) is one of these introduced mammals.
Dr Daniel Thomas (Institute of Natural and Mathematical Sciences) teaches a mammal anatomy class in the Vertebrate Zoology course at Massey University (199.212). As part of the 199.212 course work, students study and prepare a possum skull.