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{{Taxobox
| name = Mountain Pygmy Possum<ref name=MSW3/>
|fossil_range=[[Pleistocene]] - Recent
| status = CR
| trend = down
| status_system = iucn3.1
| status_ref = <ref name=iucn>{{IUCN2008|assessors=Menkhorst, P., Broome, L. & Driessen, M.|year=2008|id=3339|title=Burramys parvus|downloaded=28 December 2008}} Database entry includes justification for why this species is listed as critically endangered </ref>
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]]
| classis = [[Mammal]]ia
| infraclassis = [[Marsupialia]]
| ordo = [[Diprotodontia]]
| familia = [[Burramyidae]]
| genus = ''[[Burramys]]''
| species = '''''B. parvus'''''
| binomial = ''Burramys parvus''
| binomial_authority = [[Robert Broom|Broom]], 1896
}}

The '''Mountain Pygmy Possum''' (''Burramys parvus'') is a small, [[mouse]]-sized (weighs 45 g) [[nocturnal]] [[marsupial]] of [[Australia]] found in dense alpine rock screes and boulder fields, mainly southern [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]] and around [[Mount Kosciuszko]] in [[Kosciuszko National Park]] in [[New South Wales]]. It is approximately 11 cm long; although its prehensile tail is longer than the head and body at almost 14 cm. The Mountain Pygmy Possum eats insects (such as the [[Bogong Moth]]), fleshy fruits, nuts, nectar and seeds. It is covered in a thick coat of fine grey fur except for its stomach which is cream coloured but the long tail is hairless. On the underside of its body it has a pouch containing four teats. This [[possum]] is somewhat singular, being the only extant species in the ''[[Burramys]]'' genus.<ref name=MSW3>{{MSW3 Groves|pages=44}}</ref>

The Mountain Pygmy Possum was first described as a [[Pleistocene]] fossil by [[Robert Broom]] in 1896. It was thought to be extinct until 1966, when a living specimen was discovered in a ski-hut on Mount Hotham.<ref name=Turner>{{cite book|author=Turner, Vivienne and McKay, G. M.|chapter=27. Burramyidae|editor=Walton, D.W. and Richardson, B. J. (eds)|year=1989|title=Fauna of Australia, Volume 1B: Mammalia|location=Canberra|publisher=Australian Government Publishing Service|isbn=0-644-06056-5}}</ref>

As of 1992, there were two geographically isolated populations, [[Mount Bogong]] - [[Mount Higginbotham]]/[[Mount Hotham]] ([[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]]) and [[Kosciuszko National Park]] ([[New South Wales]]). For most of the year, males and females live apart from each other. The females live on the better part of the rocky slopes, while the males live on the margins, usually lower on the mountain. In order to breed the males migrate to the females' habitat. However, on Mount Higginbotham, the males had to cross a road at the peak of the ski season and their survival was put in danger. To solve the problem, a "Tunnel of Love" was constructed under the road and a road sign was put in place to warn drivers.

To further preserve the Mountain Pygmy Possum, a small proportion of the Perisher Blue Ski Resort, New South Wales, Australia, has been 'roped-off' to prevent resort guests (skiers and snowboarders) from disturbing the possums whilst they hibernate.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*ARKive - [http://www.arkive.org/species/GES/mammals/Burramys_parvus/ images and movies of the mountain pygmy possum ''(Burramys parvus)'']
*climateXchange - [http://climatexchange.aspacnet.org/story_63.html video interview with pygmy possum researcher Dr Linda Broome at [[Charlotte Pass]], [[New South Wales|NSW]]]
*[http://museumvictoria.com.au/bioinformatics/mammals/images/thumbmar.htm Images: skulls (including ''B. parvus'') on Museum Victoria website]
*[http://museumvictoria.com.au/bioinformatics/mammals/images/thumblmar.htm Images: Australian mammal images (including ''B. parvus'') on Museum Victoria website]
*[http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/tsd05mountain-pygmy-possum.html Threatened Species Day fact sheet], [[Department of the Environment and Heritage]], 2005 ([[Commonwealth of Australia]])

{{Diprotodontia|P.}}

[[Category:Possums]]
[[Category:Endangered fauna of Australia]]
[[Category:Mammals of New South Wales]]
[[Category:Mammals of Victoria (Australia)]]
[[Category:Marsupials of Australia]]
[[Category:EDGE Species]]

[[ca:Pòssum pigmeu de muntanya]]
[[de:Bergbilchbeutler]]
[[fr:Burramys parvus]]
[[it:Burramys parvus]]
[[nl:Burramys]]
[[pl:Drzewnica górska]]
[[pt:Burramys parvus]]
[[ru:Горный кускус]]
[[sv:Dvärgpungsovare (art)]]

Revision as of 01:38, 21 August 2009

Mountain Pygmy Possum[1]
Temporal range: Pleistocene - Recent
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Mammalia
Infraclass:
Marsupialia
Order:
Diprotodontia
Family:
Burramyidae
Genus:
Burramys
Species:
B. parvus
Binomial name
Burramys parvus
Broom, 1896

The Mountain Pygmy Possum (Burramys parvus) is a small, mouse-sized (weighs 45 g) nocturnal marsupial of Australia found in dense alpine rock screes and boulder fields, mainly southern Victoria and around Mount Kosciuszko in Kosciuszko National Park in New South Wales. It is approximately 11 cm long; although its prehensile tail is longer than the head and body at almost 14 cm. The Mountain Pygmy Possum eats insects (such as the Bogong Moth), fleshy fruits, nuts, nectar and seeds. It is covered in a thick coat of fine grey fur except for its stomach which is cream coloured but the long tail is hairless. On the underside of its body it has a pouch containing four teats. This possum is somewhat singular, being the only extant species in the Burramys genus.[1]

The Mountain Pygmy Possum was first described as a Pleistocene fossil by Robert Broom in 1896. It was thought to be extinct until 1966, when a living specimen was discovered in a ski-hut on Mount Hotham.[3]

As of 1992, there were two geographically isolated populations, Mount Bogong - Mount Higginbotham/Mount Hotham (Victoria) and Kosciuszko National Park (New South Wales). For most of the year, males and females live apart from each other. The females live on the better part of the rocky slopes, while the males live on the margins, usually lower on the mountain. In order to breed the males migrate to the females' habitat. However, on Mount Higginbotham, the males had to cross a road at the peak of the ski season and their survival was put in danger. To solve the problem, a "Tunnel of Love" was constructed under the road and a road sign was put in place to warn drivers.

To further preserve the Mountain Pygmy Possum, a small proportion of the Perisher Blue Ski Resort, New South Wales, Australia, has been 'roped-off' to prevent resort guests (skiers and snowboarders) from disturbing the possums whilst they hibernate.

References

  1. ^ a b Groves, C. P. (2005). Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 44. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. OCLC 62265494.
  2. ^ Template:IUCN2008 Database entry includes justification for why this species is listed as critically endangered
  3. ^ Turner, Vivienne and McKay, G. M. (1989). "27. Burramyidae". In Walton, D.W. and Richardson, B. J. (eds) (ed.). Fauna of Australia, Volume 1B: Mammalia. Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service. ISBN 0-644-06056-5. {{cite book}}: |editor= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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