| Long-tailed pygmy possum[1] | |
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Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Infraclass: | Marsupialia |
| Order: | Diprotodontia |
| Family: | Burramyidae |
| Genus: | Cercartetus |
| Species: | C. caudatus |
| Binomial name | |
| Cercartetus caudatus (A. Milne-Edwards, 1877) | |
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| Long-tailed pygmy possum range | |
Thelong-tailed pygmy possum (Cercartetus caudatus) is adiprotodontmarsupial found in the rainforests of northernAustralia andNew Guinea. Living at altitudes of above 1,500 m (4,900 ft), it eatsinsects andnectar, and may eatpollen in place of insects in the wild.
It is known assumsum in theKalam language ofPapua New Guinea.[3]
The long-tailed pygmy possum has large eyes,mouse/rodent-like ears, a pouch that opens anteriorly, and a tail that is about one and a half times as long as the body, giving the possum its name.
Not much is known of thispossum's behaviour, but what is known is that this species is bothnocturnal andarboreal. In cold weather, it becomes torpid and looks and feels dead, but wakes at night. Not much is known on the origin of this torpor.
This species breeds twice a year. Females have one to four young born around January and February and sometimes a second litter from late August to early September. The young leave the nest when they are 45 days old.
They only grow up to 10 cm (3.9 in).
