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They are tiny possums the size of mice.
They are furry and live mostly in forests.
Their tails can hold onto twigs.
They eat nectar, pollen, insects.
They run about at night and sleep in the day.
A pygmy-possum is the size of a mouse, with a tail that can curl around and grip branches. This is called prehensile. Pygmy-possums are nocturnal - active at night and asleep in the day in tree hollows. Because they are so small, it is difficult for them to stay warm in very cold weather, so they stay inactive, or torpid, for a few weeks at a time in winter to save energy.
They are marsupials, which mean the babies are born very undeveloped, and climb into the mother's pouch where they develop further. Pygmy-possums then keep their young in a nest until they are fully developed.
There are several different kinds of pygmy-possum:
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Found in Tasmania & in Victoria's Mallee. | The smallest possum. Weighs about 9 grams and measures about 6.5 cm, with a 7.5 cm tail. |
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Found in forests along the eastern coast of Australia and in Tasmania. | Eats pollen, nectar, fruit & insects. Tongue has a brushy tip to gather pollen.The base of its tail stores fat, which helps it survive when torpid. |
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Long-tailed |
Found in rainforest of northern Queensland & New Guinea | They make their nests of leaves. Eat insects, nectar. |
 Western pygmy-possum |
Found in southwestern areas of South Australia and Western Australia. | Feeds mainly on insects. |
 Mountain |
Found only in Mt Hotham in Victoria and Mt Kosciuszko in New South Wales, above the snowline. Loss of habitat, which has been developed for skiing. |
Endangered. Once thought to be extinct, then re-discovered.
The largest pygmy- possum: body 10-12 cm long, tail 15 cm. Hibernates in winter. In summer eats Bogong moths, insects, spiders, worms. Stores seeds to eat in winter. When snow is over a metre deep, it gets about in tunnels close to the ground. It also gets torpid for days. |
 Feathertail glider |
Forests and woodlands of eastern Australia. Arboreal (living in the treetops)
The smallest gliding mammal in the world. Preyed on by owls and other birds, snakes, large lizards, foxes, feral cats. |
Bluish grey colour, body about 8 cm, prehensile tail about 8 cm with fringe of hair either side so it looks like a feather. Weighs less than 15 g. Thin skin between front and back legs each side stretches when animal glides between trees (up to 20m distances). Has unusual extra pad on sole of foot for extra grip for vertical surfaces. |
For more information:
Little Pygmy-possum: http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/wildlife/mammals/litpposs.html
Eastern Pygmy-possum: http://www.austmus.gov.au/factsheets/eastern_pygmy_possum.htm
Long-tailed Pygmy-possum: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Cercartetus_caudatus.html
Western Pygmy-possum: http://www.australian-aridlands-botanic-garden.org/general/mammals/m_spec/m_wpp.htm
Mountain Pygmy-possum: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/tsd05mountain-pygmy-possum.html
Feathertail glider: http://www.tvwc.org/HTML/feathertail%20glider.htm
Acknowledge this source in your bibliography like this:
Pygmy-possums (2000). [Online], Available: www.kidcyber.com.au
See also Possums
Updated July 2007
