Southwestern pygmy possum

Southwestern Pygmy Possum[1] Temporal range: Late Pleistocene – Recent
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[2]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Infraclass:	Marsupialia
Order:	Diprotodontia
Family:	Burramyidae
Genus:	Cercartetus
Species:	C. concinnus
Binomial name
Cercartetus concinnus (Gould, 1845)
Southwestern pygmy possum range

The southwestern pygmy possum (Cercartetus concinnus), commonly known as the western pygmy possum or the mundarda, is a small marsupial found in Australia. Genetic studies indicate that the closest relative of this species is probably the eastern pygmy possum,^[3] from which its ancestors diverged around eight million years ago.^[4]

Description

The southwestern pygmy possum is unusual among the members of its four-strong genus, as, unlike its grey relatives, the fur over most of its body is a bright cinnamon colour.^[5] It has pure white underparts, which also distinguishes it from its relatives, and has a relatively indistinct patch of darker fur in front of the eyes. It possesses larger, oval ears, large eyes, and long whiskers. The tail is long and prehensile, and is covered with fine scales, rather than fur. The hind feet have an opposable first digit, while all four feet have broad pads at the tips of the toes.^[6]

Although small compared with most other possums, it is one of the larger pygmy possums, with adults ranging from 5.7–7.2 centimetres (2.2–2.8 in) in head-body length with a 7.7–8.7 centimetres (3.0–3.4 in), tail. Adult weight ranges from 8–21 grams (0.3–0.7 oz). The female has a well-developed pouch, opening to the front, and containing six teats. At up to 1.2 centimetres (0.47 in) in length, the tongue is unusually large for such a small animal.^[6]

Distribution and habitat

It has a patchy distribution which includes southwestern Western Australia as well as wheatbelt areas of South Australia, Kangaroo Island and Victoria south to Edenhope.^[5] It is also found on in far south-western New South Wales, where it is listed as endangered.^[7] It inhabits semiarid woodland, shrubland and heath, dominated by plants such as bottlebrushes, melaleuca, banksia, and grevillea.^[6] Although there had been previously thought to be two subspecies, separated in distribution by the Nullarbor plain, genetic studies have not revealed any significant difference between the eastern and western populations.^[4] Furthermore, while the species is no longer native to the area, fossils from the Nullarbor plain region are known.^[6]

Behaviour and diet

The southwestern pygmy possum is solitary and nocturnal.^[5] During the day they shelter in tree hollows or other natural crevices, birds' nests, or dense vegetation. During the night, they travel in search of food or mates, typically moving around 50 metres (160 ft) each day, and they may migrate to different areas over the course of a year, depending on local plant resources. They spend most of their time in the trees, using their grasping paws and prehensile tails to grip onto branches, grasp nest materials, and open flowers to access nectar. They have been described as making a rapid chattering noise.^[6]

It feeds primarily on nectar and pollen, especially from plants such as melaleuca and eucalyptus, and may play a role in the pollination.^[8] It also supplements its diet with small amounts of insects.^[5] Native predators include quolls, snakes, and owls, although in modern times the animal also falls prey to introduced carnivores such as red foxes and domestic cats.^[6]

Southwestern pygmy possums have the ability to enter torpor during inclement or cold weather, enabling them to conserve energy and food reserves. During bouts of torpor, which may last for up to seven days at a time, body temperature falls to within one degree Celsius of ambient, and oxygen consumption to just 1% of normal. They sleep on their front, with their ears folded over their eyes, and the long tail coiled beneath their body. Compared with other mammals of similar size, they rouse from torpor unusually quickly.^[9]

Reproduction

Southwestern pygmy possums can breed throughout the year, although they do so more commonly in the spring, and give birth to litters of four to six young. Although the mother often carries more than six embryos at a time in her womb, because she has only six teats, and marsupial young remain attached to an individual teat for much of their early life, this is the maximum number she is able to rear.^[10] Unusually, however, the mother may give birth just two days after weaning a previous litter, with her teats dramatically changing in size to accommodate the smaller young, and the mammary glands reverting to production of colostrum.^[6]

The young are still blind when they leave the pouch at around 25 days of age; they initially remain within the nest, and are fully weaned at around 50 days. Females reach sexual maturity at twelve to fifteen months.^[6]

References

1. ^ Groves, C. (2005). Wilson, D. E., & Reeder, D. M, eds. ed. Mammal Species of the World (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 44–45. OCLC 62265494. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. http://www.bucknell.edu/msw3. 
2. ^ Burbidge, A., Morris, K., Ellis, M., van Weenen, J. & Menkhorst, P. (2008). Cercartetus concinnus. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 28 December 2008. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
3. ^ Osborne, M.J. & Christidis, L. (2002). "Systematics and biogeography of pygmy possums (Burramyidae: Cercartetus)". Australian Journal of Zoology 50 (1): 25–37. doi:10.1071/ZO01071. 
4. ^ ^{a b} Pestell, A.J.L. et al. (2008). "Genetic structure of the western pygmy possum Cercartetus concinnus Gould (Marsupialia: Burramyidae) based on mitochondrial DNA". Australian Mammalogy 29 (2): 191–200. doi:10.1071/AM07023. 
5. ^ ^{a b c d} Menkhorst, Peter (2001). A Field Guide to the Mammals of Australia. Oxford University Press. p. 88. 
6. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h} Harris, J.M. (2009). "Cercartetus concinnus (Diprotodontia: Burramyidae)". Mammalian Species 831: 1–11. doi:10.1644/831.1. 
7. ^ New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service. "Western pygmy-possum (Cercartetus concinnus) approved recovery plan". http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/nature/approvedDpygmy.pdf. Retrieved 10th June 2011. 
8. ^ Pestell, A.J.L. & Petit, S. (2007). "Diet of the western pygmy possum, Cercartetus concinnus Gould (Marsupialia: Burramyidae), at Innes National Park, South Australia, and evaluation of diet sampling methods". Australian Journal of Zoology 55 (5): 275–284. doi:10.1071/ZO07037. 
9. ^ Geiser, F. (1987). "Hibernation and daily torpor in two pygmy possums (Cercartetus spp., Marsupialia)". Physiological Zoology 60 (1): 93–102. JSTOR 30158631. 
10. ^ Ward, S.J. (1998). "Numbers of teats and pre- and post-natal litter sizes in small diprotodont marsupials". Journal of Mammalogy 79 (3): 999–1008. doi:10.2307/1383108. JSTOR 1383108. 

External links

• Western Wildlife including photo
• Images: skulls (including C. concinnus) on Museum Victoria website
• Images: Australian mammal images (including C. concinnus) on Museum Victoria website