Mountain pygmy possum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mountain pygmy possumTemporal range: Pleistocene – Recent
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The mountain pygmy possum (Burramys parvus), also known as the Burramys, is a tiny marsupial from Australia. It's about the size of a mouse, weighing around 45 grams. This possum is active at night (nocturnal) and lives in rocky areas in the mountains of southern Victoria and near Mount Kosciuszko in New South Wales. It lives at high elevations, from about 1,300 to 2,230 meters (4,265 to 7,316 feet) high.
Its tail is almost 14 cm (5.5 inches) long, which is longer than its head and body combined (about 11 cm or 4.3 inches). The mountain pygmy possum eats insects like the bogong moth, as well as fruits, nuts, nectar, and seeds. Its body is covered in thick grey fur, but its belly is cream-colored, and its tail has no hair. Female possums have a pouch with four teats on their underside. This possum is special because it's the only living species in its group (genus Burramys). It's also the only Australian mammal that lives only in alpine habitats.
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Discovery of the Mountain Pygmy Possum
The mountain pygmy possum was first found as a fossil in 1895. Parts of its jaw and skull were discovered in the Wombeyan Caves in New South Wales. At that time, people thought this species was extinct, meaning it no longer existed.
However, in 1966, a living mountain pygmy possum was found at a ski resort in Mount Hotham, Victoria! This was a huge surprise. Since then, scientists have found three separate groups of these possums living in the high mountain areas of southern Australia. Each group is a bit different genetically.
What Does the Mountain Pygmy Possum Look Like?
The mountain pygmy possum is a small marsupial that looks a bit like a rodent. It usually weighs about 45 grams (1.6 ounces) and its head and body are about 110 mm (4.3 inches) long. Males are usually a little bigger than females.
They have large eyes that point forward and short, pointed noses. Their teeth are special, with three upper front teeth and two upper grinding teeth. On their back feet, they have a thumb-like toe that can grasp things. Females also have a pouch that opens forward, with four teats inside.
These possums have fine, thick fur. Their back is greyish-brown, with a darker stripe down the middle. Their belly is a pale cream color. They often have a darker grey ring around their eyes. During the breeding season, males get a more orange color on their belly and sides. The mountain pygmy possum has a long, grasping tail, about 140 mm (5.5 inches) long, with very little hair.
Where Do Mountain Pygmy Possums Live?
The mountain pygmy possum lives only in the high mountain areas of southern Australia. They are found in three separate mountain regions:
- Mount Blue Cow in Kosciuszko National Park in New South Wales.
- Mount Bogong and Mount Higginbotham/Loch in the Bogong High Plains in Victoria.
- Mount Buller in Victoria.
Male and female possums tend to live in different parts of these mountains. Females usually live at higher elevations, from about 1,400 to 2,228 meters (4,593 to 7,310 feet). They prefer areas with deep rock piles and boulder fields. A female possum's home range depends on how many Bogong moths are around, which is their favorite food. If there are lots of moths, females need a smaller area to find food. If there are fewer moths, they need a much larger area.
Male mountain pygmy possums usually live at lower elevations, generally between 1,200 and 1,300 meters (3,937 to 4,265 feet). Their home ranges become largest during the breeding season, from November to December, when they travel to the female nesting sites. After breeding, their home ranges shrink again.
What Do Mountain Pygmy Possums Eat?
Mountain pygmy possums love to eat Bogong moths, which make up about one-third of their diet. These moths fly to the high mountains during spring and summer. During these months, the possums rely on Bogong moths as their main food.
In the autumn, the Bogong moths leave the mountains. At this time, mountain pygmy possums have to find other foods like fruits and seeds. They eat fruits from the mountain plum pine (Podocarpus lawrencei) and seeds from snow beard-heaths (Leucopogon species) and blackberries (Rubus species).
When a possum finds food, it first smells it. Then, it picks up the food with its front teeth. After that, it uses its front paws to hold and break off pieces to eat.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Mountain pygmy possums usually have one litter of babies each year. Females need to build up enough fat reserves for their long winter sleep (hibernation), so they have their babies in the spring. This is when Bogong moths are plentiful, providing lots of food.
The breeding season is usually in October and November. During this time, males travel to the higher areas where females live to mate. After mating, the female is pregnant for about 14 to 16 days. Then, the tiny, undeveloped babies are born and crawl into the female's forward-facing pouch.
A female mountain pygmy possum has four teats, and usually has three or four babies in a litter. The young stay in the pouch for about three weeks. After that, they stay in the nest for another three to four weeks. They are weaned (stop drinking milk) when they are about nine to ten weeks old.
Female possums often share a nest in deep rock cracks. These nests are usually in areas with many Bogong moths. Soon after mating, females chase the males away from the nest. Male mountain pygmy possums do not help raise the young. Young males are also driven away from the nest shortly after they are weaned. Mountain pygmy possums become old enough to have their own babies when they are about one year old.
Behaviour of the Mountain Pygmy Possum
Mountain pygmy possums are active at night (nocturnal). They sleep during the day and look for food at night. Unlike most other pygmy possums, which live in trees, the mountain pygmy possum lives on the ground. They prefer to live in deep boulder fields in the alpine regions of Southern Australia.
Female possums often live in family groups of up to ten related individuals. They tend to stay in the same nesting spots for a long time. Male mountain pygmy possums, however, usually live alone. They leave the nesting sites as young possums and move to lower parts of the mountains. Because of this, males often face more dangers and have a higher chance of dying than females, as the boulder fields offer some protection from predators.
The mountain pygmy possum is the only small mammal in Australia that hibernates (has a long winter sleep) for many months. Other pygmy possums can hibernate if they need to, but not for such long periods.
Adult mountain pygmy possums hibernate for up to seven months, while younger ones usually hibernate for about five months. Both males and females need to eat a lot of Bogong moths before hibernation to build up fat. This fat gives them energy during their long sleep. Mountain pygmy possums also hide seeds and berries. They eat these when they wake up briefly during hibernation.
During hibernation, the possums wake up for two or three days at a time to eat their stored food. This usually happens when the air temperature is between 4 and 7 degrees Celsius (39 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit). During hibernation, the possum can lower its body temperature to just 2 degrees Celsius (35.6 degrees Fahrenheit). When they are in a deep sleep, they curl up their bodies, tucking their heads into their chest or belly to stay warm. Females have also been seen sharing nests made from moss and snow grass. Both males and females hibernate under a layer of insulating snow.
During the spring and summer breeding season, older and heavier possums usually live in the best habitats. While males generally get along for most of the year, they can become aggressive towards each other during breeding season. Both males and females can show aggression by biting tails. Females are very aggressive towards both males and females when protecting their nests, especially when they have babies. Females also act aggressively towards adult males after the breeding season and towards young males after they are weaned.
Conservation Status
Since 2008, the mountain pygmy possum has been listed as critically endangered by the IUCN Red List. This means it faces a very high risk of extinction in the wild. In 2000, there were fewer than 2,000 possums left in all three isolated groups. Sadly, these numbers have dropped even more in recent years. A study in 2006 at Mount Buller found only 30 adult possums. In 2007, only 60 females were recorded at Mount Blue Cow. As of 2021, scientists still estimate there are fewer than 2,000 individuals left.
Threats to Survival
The biggest dangers to mountain pygmy possums are:
- habitat destruction and breaking up their living areas.
- climate change.
- Being hunted by feral cats and red foxes.
- Problems with their main food source, the bogong moth.
Building ski resorts in the mountains where these possums live has greatly reduced their numbers. For example, a major road built to the Mount Hotham ski resort at Mount Higginbotham stopped male possums from reaching female nesting sites during breeding season. This barrier caused many possums to die in winter. To fix this, a tunnel was built to give male possums a safe path to migrate.
Climate change is another serious threat. The mountain pygmy possum is the only Australian mammal that lives only in alpine regions. It is perfectly adapted to the seasonal availability of Bogong moths and other foods. Studies suggest that less snow cover and shorter winters are harming the possums. For instance, at Kosciuszko National Park, the snow cover period was 10 days shorter, and snow melted 15 days earlier. While their hibernation spots seemed warm enough without snow, the extra layer of snow helps protect them during the coldest months. This extra insulation is thought to help them stay in a deep sleep longer, reducing how often they wake up. Waking up too often uses up their energy stores and can reduce their chances of survival. Some researchers have suggested moving the remaining possums from their cold mountain homes to warmer rainforests at lower elevations. This idea comes from past efforts where possums did not need to hibernate when temperatures were above 12 degrees Celsius (53.6 degrees Fahrenheit).
Red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and feral cats also hunt many mountain pygmy possums. To control these predators, plans are in place to protect all species affected by them.
Scientists are also studying the threats to the Bogong moth. This moth is the possums' favorite food. The moths' arrival in spring tells the possums that winter is over and it's time to wake up. Bogong moths are also rich in protein and fat, giving the possums the energy they need for their seven-month hibernation.
Captive Breeding Programmes
Organizations like the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife and Zoos Victoria have started captive breeding programmes to help save the mountain pygmy possum. Zoos Victoria began its programme at the Healesville Sanctuary in 2007. As of December 2013, they cared for 45 mountain pygmy possums. Their main goal is to improve the possum's status on the IUCN Redlist, moving it to a less endangered category.
As of 2021, a new captive breeding project is happening at Secret Creek Sanctuary in Lithgow, New South Wales. Prague Zoo helped fund this sanctuary with a donation of AUD$190,000 after the 2019-20 bushfires in Australia. About 15 possums will be caught from Mount Kosciuszko, get used to special enclosures, and then be released into the sanctuary.
National Recovery Plan
In 2016, the first national recovery plan for this species was created. This plan aims to fight the dangers caused by habitat loss, predators (cats and foxes), and climate change. It especially focuses on the tiny population at Mount Buller. The plan describes where the possums live, their habitat, the threats they face, and the steps needed to help them survive long-term.
Decline in Bogong Moths
Scientists noticed a huge drop in Bogong moth numbers in the summer of 2018–2019. This was due to droughts caused by climate change in the moths' breeding areas. Without enough moths as a food source during the breeding season in spring 2018, the possums lost their babies because they didn't have enough food. A similar situation happened in spring 2017, so scientists expected adult possum numbers to also decrease.
In the spring and summer of 2017–18 and 2018–19, there were dramatic drops in the number of moths in the Alpine caves. Millions of moths usually cover the walls of these caves in summer, but in 2017-2018, some caves had none. Experts believe the falling numbers are due to winter droughts in the moths' breeding areas and climate change. The lack of rain means there isn't enough plant life for the caterpillars to eat.
Other scientists have pointed out the serious effect this has on animals that eat the moths. Bogong moths are an important source of protein for many wild animals, including the mountain pygmy possum, other insect-eating mammals, and birds. One wildlife expert said that the Australian Alps are very vulnerable to climate change because the mountains are not very tall. This means that when it gets warmer, these cold-adapted species have nowhere higher to go to escape the heat.
Images for kids
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Plate from the 1896 description
See also
In Spanish: Oposum pigmeo de montaña para niños
