Mammal
Eastern Pygmy Possum
Cercartetus nanusEastern pygmy possums are tiny, nocturnal marsupials that navigate the understory with nimble prehensile tails and brush-tipped tongues designed for sipping nectar. They store excess fat at the base of their tail before entering prolonged bouts of torpor during cold or resource-scarce winter periods. By shuttling between flowering eucalypts and banksias, these agile climbers serve as crucial native pollinators across southeastern Australian bushland.
NocturnalArborealPollinator
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyMoths, Beetles, Spiders
Predators
- Feral cat
- Red fox
- Sooty owl
ThreatsHabitat fragmentation, frequent bushfires, and predation by feral cats and foxes
HabitatsSclerophyll forest, coastal heath, woodland, and temperate rainforest
Life span4–8 years
Classification
- FamilyBurramyidae
- SpeciesCercartetus nanus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Spotlighting: Use a low-intensity red light filter when scanning flowering banksias at night to avoid dazzling their sensitive eyes.
- Habitat Care: Leave hollow limbs and dense undergrowth undisturbed, as these provide essential nesting sites and daytime shelter.
Competitor (c) Greg Tasney, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Host Plant Gnangarra / Public domain · cc0
Same Family Wikipedia User / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Miss.chelle.13, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
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