Long-tailed pygmy possum

{{Short description|Species of marsupial}}

{{Speciesbox

| name = Long-tailed pygmy possum{{MSW3 Groves|pages=44}}

| image = Cercartetus caudatus.jpg

| status = LC

| status_system = IUCN3.1

| status_ref = {{cite iucn |author=Aplin, K. |author2=Dickman, C. |author3=Salas, L. |author4=Burnett, S. |author5=Winter, J. |date=2016 |title=Cercartetus caudatus |volume=2016 |page=e.T4192A21963339 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T4192A21963339.en |access-date=12 November 2021}}

| taxon = Cercartetus caudatus

| authority = (A. Milne-Edwards, 1877)

| range_map = Long-tailed Pygmy Possum area.png

| range_map_caption = Long-tailed pygmy possum range

}}

The long-tailed pygmy possum (Cercartetus caudatus) is a diprotodont marsupial found in the rainforests of northern Australia and New Guinea. Living at altitudes of above {{cvt|1500|m}}, it eats insects and nectar, and may eat pollen in place of insects in the wild.

It is known as sumsum in the Kalam language of Papua New Guinea.Pawley, Andrew and Ralph Bulmer. 2011. A Dictionary of Kalam with Ethnographic Notes. Canberra. Pacific Linguistics.

Description

The long-tailed pygmy possum has large eyes, mouse/rodent-like ears, a pouch that opens anteriorly, and a tail that is about one and a half times as long as the body, giving the possum its name.

Behaviour

Not much is known of this possum's behaviour, but what is known is that this species is both nocturnal and arboreal. In cold weather, it becomes torpid and looks and feels dead, but wakes at night. Not much is known on the origin of this torpor.

Life cycle

This species breeds twice a year. Females have one to four young born around January and February and sometimes a second litter from late August to early September. The young leave the nest when they are 45 days old.

They only grow up to {{convert|10|cm|in|abbr=on}}.

References