Striped possum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Striped possum |
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| At Cooktown, Queensland | |
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Dactylopsila
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| Species: |
trivirgata
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| Distribution of the striped possum | |
The striped possum or common striped possum (Dactylopsila trivirgata) is a type of marsupial, which is a mammal that carries its young in a pouch. It belongs to a family called Petauridae.
It's easy to spot with its black fur and three white stripes running from its head to its tail. Its head also has white stripes that look like a 'Y' shape. It looks a lot like its relative, the sugar glider.
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Discovering the Striped Possum
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A scientist named John Edward Gray first described the striped possum in 1858. He studied an example that came from the Aru Islands in Indonesia. This specimen was sent to the British Museum by another famous explorer, Alfred Russel Wallace.
Gray gave the species its scientific name, Dactylopsila trivirgata, which it still has today. An artist named Joseph Wolf created the first drawing of the striped possum for its description.
Where Striped Possums Live
The striped possum lives in rainforests and eucalypt woodlands. In Australia, you can find them along the east coast of Cape York Peninsula and as far south as Townsville in Queensland.
However, they are much more common in New Guinea. They also live on several smaller islands nearby, including the Solomon Islands. It's quite rare to see one in Australia.
What Does a Striped Possum Look Like?
This possum looks a bit like a black and white squirrel. It prefers to be alone and is mostly active at night. Striped possums live in trees and build their nests in tree branches.
Their body is about 26 centimeters (10 inches) long, and their tail is even longer, about 32 centimeters (13 inches). They usually weigh around 423 grams (about 15 ounces). The striped possum has a prehensile tail, which means it can use its tail to grip branches.
One of its most interesting features is its fourth finger. This finger is much longer than its other fingers. It's similar to the long finger of the aye-aye, a type of lemur. The possum uses this long finger to find and pull out beetles and caterpillars from tree bark. This makes it like a "mammalian woodpecker"!
What Do Striped Possums Eat?
The main food for striped possums is insect larvae that live inside wood. They find these larvae by rapidly drumming their front toes on branches. This helps them detect where the insects are hiding.
Once they find a larva, they use their strong incisor teeth to rip open the tree bark. Then, they use their long fourth finger, which has a special hooked nail, to pull the insects out of cracks. Besides larvae, they also eat leaves, fruits, and small vertebrates (animals with backbones).
Habits and Sounds
The striped possum is known for having a "very powerful unpleasant smell." It can also be quite noisy, often making growling sounds. During the day, it usually curls up on an exposed branch and sleeps.
Reproduction and Young
Female striped possums have two teats inside their pouch. This means they can give birth to up to two young at a time. However, scientists don't know a lot about their breeding habits.
Finding a Striped Possum
It's often easiest to find a striped possum by listening for the sounds it makes while chewing and drinking in the forest. The striped possum is one of the least known marsupials. Luckily, this species is not considered to be in danger.
Images for kids
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At Cooktown, Queensland
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Distribution of the striped possum
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Striped Possum, illustrated by Joseph Wolf, 1858.
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In Crater Lakes National Park, Queensland, Australia
See also
In Spanish: Falangero listado para niños
