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Burramyidae - pygmy possums

pygmy possumThere are five species of tiny marsupials in this family. They are mouse-sized and are found in Australia and New Guinea. The have small, triangular heads; long, prehensile tails, and big round eyes. They are nocturnal, live in trees, and eat insects. Species in this family include: the mountain pygmy-possum, the long-tailed pygmy possum, the western pygmy possum, eastern pygmy possum, and the Little pygmy possum.

World Status Key
Least Concern Least Concern Near Threatened Near Threatened Vulnerable Vulnerable
Endangered Endangered Critically Endangered Critically Endangered
extinct in the wild Extinct in the Wild extinct Extinct
Status and range is taken from ICUN Redlist. If no status is listed, there is not enough data to establish status.

US Status Key
Threatened in US Threatened in US Threatened in New Hampshire Threatened in NH Endangered in US Endangered in US Endangered in NH Endangered in NH
breeds in nh Breeds in NH Introduced Introduced
Status taken from US Fish and Wildlife and NH Fish and Game

New Hampshire Species

 

 North/Central American Species

None
  None

Species Around the World

Africa Africa Asia Asia Australia Australia/Oceania Europe Europe North America North/Central America South America South America New Hampshire Species NH Species

Mountain Pygmy Possum - Burramys parvus Critically Endangered Australia
Long-tailed Pygmy Possum - Cercartetus caudatus Least Concern Asia Australia
Western Pygmy Possum - Cercartetus concinnus Least Concern Australia
  Little Pygmy Possum - Cercartetus lepidus Least Concern Australia
Eastern Pygmy Possum - Cercartetus nanus Least Concern Australia

Additional Information

Key: profile Profile Photos Photos Video Video Audio Audio

Little Pygmy Possum - Cercartetus lepidus profile Photos Least Concern Australia
The little pygmy possum is also known as the Tasmanian pygmy possum. It is found on the island of Tasmania and on the on the mainland of Australia at the border between south-eastern South Australia and northwestern Victoria.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Little Pygmy Possum - Cercartetus lepidus profile Photos Least Concern Australia
At between 2-3 inches in length, not including its tail, the little pygmy possum is the smallest of all possum species.
Source: Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Long-tailed Pygmy Possum - Cercartetus caudatus profile Least Concern Asia Australia
The long-tailed pygmy possum is found in temperate rainforests in Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Mountain Pygmy Possum - Burramys parvus profile Photos Video Critically Endangered Australia
The mountain pygmy possum is the largest of the pygmy possums.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Mountain Pygmy Possum - Burramys parvus profile Photos Critically Endangered Australia
The mountain pygmy possum is nocturnal; during the day it sleeps curled up in a ball to conserve heat.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Mountain Pygmy Possum profile Photos Critically Endangered Australia
See what is being done to save the mountain pygmy possum.
Source: Zoos Victoria Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School

Mountain Pygmy Possum - Burramys parvus profile Photos Critically Endangered Australia
The mountain pygmy possum was only known from fossil records until it was discovered in the Australian Alps in 1966.
Source: EDGE Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Mountain Pygmy Possum - Burramys parvus profile Photos Critically Endangered Australia
The mountain pygmy possum has a mouse-like body covered in thick grayish fur.
Source: Australian Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population, and Communities Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Mountain Pygmy Possum - Burramys parvus profile Photos Critically Endangered Australia
The mountain pygmy-possum hibernates under the snow in winter.
Source: Australian Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Western Pygmy Possum - Cercartetus concinnus profile Least Concern Australia
The western pygmy possum is found in southwestern, southern, and southeastern Australia.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Western Pygmy Possum - Cercartetus concinnus profile Photos Least Concern Australia
The western pygmy possum is nocturnal. During the day it is found in leaf-lined tree hollows, grass trees, and old birds' nests.
Source: Australian Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School