| Pygmy possums[1] | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Eastern pygmy possum (Cercartetus nanus) | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Infraclass: | Marsupialia |
| Order: | Diprotodontia |
| Suborder: | Phalangeriformes |
| Superfamily: | Phalangeroidea |
| Family: | Burramyidae Broom, 1898 |
| Genera | |
Thepygmy possums are a family of smallpossums that together form themarsupial familyBurramyidae. The five extantspecies of pygmy possum are grouped into twogenera. Four of the species areendemic toAustralia, with one species also co-occurring inPapua New Guinea andIndonesia.
Pygmy possums range in length from about 5 to 12 cm (2.0 to 4.7 in), and usually weigh between 10 and 50 grams (0.35 and 1.76 oz). They arenocturnal andomnivorous, living on a diet ofinvertebrates,fruit,seed,nectar andpollen. They are excellent climbers, due in part to theirprehensile tails. Although they cannot glide like some possums, some species can leap long distances.[2] They have a prehensile tail for grabbing branches, but spend most of their time on the ground.
Conservation International (CI) and theIndonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) reported the possible discovery of a new species ofCercartetus pygmy possum upon visit to theFoja Mountains in June 2007.[3]
The mountain pygmy possum is the only mammal restricted to the alpineand sub-alpine areas of mainland Australia. It was thought to be extinct until rediscovered in 1966 at Mt Higginbotham in Victoria. They are the only Australian marsupial that hibernates. Given the alpine climates in which they live they store energy in fat deposits before rolling into a ball and engaging inheterothermy during winter months.
The two genera of pygmy possums areBurramys andCercartetus.Burramys contains only one extant species, themountain pygmy possum,B. parvus. As currently understood,Cercartetus consists of four extant species.
† = extinct species
