Mountain Pygmy-possum (Burramys parvus) is actually Australia's biggest pygmy-possum, out of 5 breeds. That is not to say that its bulk is impressive, on the contrary, the lack of size IS impressive. One could just fit in right inside your palm. The mouse-like creature has a grey fur, long tail, flexible front feet, back feet built for gripping purposes, and pronounced teeth.
Mountain Pygmy-possums can only be found in certain localities of Australia, namely: alpine/sub alpine parts above 1400 meters, in NSW and Victoria. The typical Mountain Pygmy-possum resides in crevices of rocks. They feed during the night. During trying times, they gather reserves by eating principally Bogong moths, but in more favorable times, they would eat plant seeds too.
There are very few marsupials which hibernate, and the Mountain Pygmy-possum is one of those. In hibernating, their metabolic rate is cut down by around 98%. They are known to hibernate for at least 3 weeks, in the coldest months.
The Mountain Pygmy-possum is not safe from extinction at present. Predators such as wild cats and foxes are of course, an ever-present danger to them. Then, there is the destruction of their habitat due to human factors/actions (like skiing, resort developing). Owing to the fact that these possums need a level (snow) of 1 meter (no less), any climate transformation has great impact on their survival.
Interesting fact: These possums were considered extinct until they were found at a ski chalet, sometime in the mid 1960s.
Mountain Pygmy-possums can only be found in certain localities of Australia, namely: alpine/sub alpine parts above 1400 meters, in NSW and Victoria. The typical Mountain Pygmy-possum resides in crevices of rocks. They feed during the night. During trying times, they gather reserves by eating principally Bogong moths, but in more favorable times, they would eat plant seeds too.
There are very few marsupials which hibernate, and the Mountain Pygmy-possum is one of those. In hibernating, their metabolic rate is cut down by around 98%. They are known to hibernate for at least 3 weeks, in the coldest months.
The Mountain Pygmy-possum is not safe from extinction at present. Predators such as wild cats and foxes are of course, an ever-present danger to them. Then, there is the destruction of their habitat due to human factors/actions (like skiing, resort developing). Owing to the fact that these possums need a level (snow) of 1 meter (no less), any climate transformation has great impact on their survival.
Interesting fact: These possums were considered extinct until they were found at a ski chalet, sometime in the mid 1960s.
Keywords: nocturnal , prehensile tail , tail , pouch , migrate , blue , hibernate , white
The Broom's pygmy-possum, burramys, mountain pygmy possum is listed as Endangered (EN), considered to be facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild, on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
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AustraliaSome facts about the
Mountain pygmy possum
Adult weight : 0.045 kg (0.099 lbs)
Maximum longevity : 12 years
Female maturity :320 days
Male maturity : 320 days
Gestation : 15 days
Weaning : 60 days
Litter size : 4
Interval between litters : 365 days
Weight at weaning : 0.022 kg (0.0484 lbs)
Body mass : 0.044 kg (0.0968 lbs)
Temperature : 35.85 °C (96.53 °F)
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