The eastern pygmy possum (Cercartetus nanus ) is a diprotodont marsupial of south-eastern Australia. Occurring from southern Queensland to eastern South Australia and also Tasmania, it is found in a range of habitats, including rainforest, sclerophyll forest, woodland and heath.
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NocturnalNocturnality is an animal behavior characterized by being active during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal",...
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HerbivoreA herbivore is an animal anatomically and physiologically adapted to eating plant material, for example, foliage, for the main component of its die...
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NectarivoreIn zoology, a nectarivore is an animal that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of the sugar-...
In zoology, a folivore is a herbivore that specializes in eating leaves. Mature leaves contain a high proportion of hard-to-digest cellulose, less ...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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AltricialAltricial animals are those species whose newly hatched or born young are relatively immobile. They lack hair or down, are not able to obtain food ...
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ArborealArboreal locomotion is the locomotion of animals in trees. In habitats in which trees are present, animals have evolved to move in them. Some anima...
Among animals, viviparity is the development of the embryo inside the body of the parent. The term 'viviparity' and its adjective form 'viviparous'...
Torpor is a state of decreased physiological activity in an animal, usually marked by a reduced body temperature and metabolic rate. Torpor enables...
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PolygynyPolygyny is a mating system in which one male lives and mates with multiple females but each female only mates with a single male.
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Generally solitaryGenerally solitary animals are those animals that spend their time separately but will gather at foraging areas or sleep in the same location or sh...
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starts withThe Eastern pygmy possum is a marsupial living in south-eastern Australia. It is a dull gray color above and white below, and has a long prehensile tail which has thick fur at its base that thins out towards the tip, big, almost hairless ears that point forward, long whiskers, and thin rings of dark fur around its eyes.
Eastern pygmy possums inhabit the coast of southeastern Australian, from eastern South Australia to the south of Queensland, as well as Tasmania. They occur in shrubby vegetation in a wide range of habitats, from open shrubland or heathland to sclerophyll or rainforest.
An Eastern pygmy possum is nocturnal, and, although this species is thought to be solitary, they have been known to share nests and to gather in groups numbering two or more adults. The home ranges of males are 0.24 to 1.7 hectares (0.59 to 4.20 acres), and they overlap with each other, as well as with the smaller ranges of females - 0.18 to 0.61 hectares (0.44 to 1.51 acres). Males often travel further than females, though both are rather sedentary. These possums are skillful climbers and leapers. In winter, in order to conserve energy, for extended periods they remain torpid, with the stored fat in their tail as a source of energy.
The Eastern pygmy possum is primarily an herbivore and eats mostly the nectar and pollen of eucalypts, banksias, and bottlebrushes. In some regions, they may also eat insects and fruit.
Eastern pygmy possums are usually polygynous, which means that one male gets exclusive mating rights with multiple females. There are two different breeding seasons. On the mainland of Australia breeding is from spring to autumn, and on Tasmania the season is from late winter until spring. A female of this species has a well-developed pouch, usually giving birth to four young, though larger litters can be produced. Gestation is for about 30 days, and then the young stay in the pouch for 33 to 37 days. At 60 to 65 days old they are weaned, and they remain with their mother at least for ten more days, until they are about 10 grams (0.35 oz). They reach their full adult size at about five months, but can breed as early as three months old.
The logging and grazing industries of Tasmania are a serious threat to the Eastern pygmy possum. Clear-cutting and regeneration currently drive these animals from areas they previously inhabited.
According to IUCN, the Eastern pygmy is common and relatively widespread throughout its range but no overall population estimate is available. Currently this species is classified as Least Concern (LC), but its numbers today are decreasing.
The Eastern pygmy helps in the pollination of certain flowers.
