Long-tailed pygmy possum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Long-tailed pygmy possum |
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The long-tailed pygmy possum (Cercartetus caudatus) is a tiny marsupial that lives in rainforests. You can find it in northern Australia, Indonesia, and New Guinea. These small possums live high up in the mountains, usually above 1,500 meters (about 4,900 feet).
They mostly eat insects and sweet nectar from flowers. Sometimes, if insects are hard to find, they might eat pollen instead. In Papua New Guinea, people who speak the Kalam language call this possum "sumsum."
What Does It Look Like?
The long-tailed pygmy possum is quite small. It grows to about 10 centimeters (4 inches) long. It has big eyes that help it see in the dark. Its ears look a bit like a mouse's or rodent's.
A special feature is its pouch, which opens towards the front. Its tail is very long, about one and a half times longer than its body. This long tail is why it's called the "long-tailed" pygmy possum!
How Does It Behave?
Scientists are still learning a lot about how this possum behaves. We do know that it is nocturnal, meaning it is active at night. It is also arboreal, which means it spends most of its life in trees.
When the weather gets very cold, the possum can enter a special state called torpor. During torpor, it slows down its body functions a lot. It might even look and feel like it's not alive. But don't worry, it's just resting deeply! It wakes up again when night comes. Scientists are still studying why these possums go into torpor.
Life Cycle
Long-tailed pygmy possums usually have babies twice a year. The females can have one to four young at a time. The first group of babies is often born around January and February.
Sometimes, a second group of babies arrives later in the year, from late August to early September. The young possums stay with their mother for about 45 days. After that, they are ready to leave the nest and explore on their own.
See also
In Spanish: Pósum pigmeo cola larga para niños
