This makes it unique in its genus, all other members of which are found in New Guinea or nearby islands.

The green ringtail possum is found in a tiny area of northeastern Queensland, between Paluma and Mount Windsor Tableland.

In reality the fur is olive grey, but it is grizzled with silver, yellow and black hairs, which makes it appear green.

It feeds mostly on leaves[3] and is one of the few species that can eat the leaves of the stinger plant (Dendrocnide moroides) which can cause extreme pain with human casualties needing to be hospitalised.

[4] It also engages in a practice called coprophagy, where an animal eats its own faeces.