- Pygmy possum
Taxobox
name = Pygmy possumsMSW3 Groves|pages=44-45]
fossil_range=Pleistocene - Recent
image_caption =Eastern Pygmy Possum ("Cercartetus nanus")
regnum =Animal ia
phylum = Chordata
classis =Mammalia
infraclassis =Marsupialia
ordo =Diprotodontia
familia = Burramyidae
familia_authority = Broom, 1898
subdivision_ranks = Genera
subdivision = "Burramys "
"Cercartetus "The pygmy possums are species of small
possum s that together form themarsupial family Burramyidae. There are five extantspecies of pygmy possum, grouped into two genera. Four of the species are endemic toAustralia , with one species also co-occurring inPapua New Guinea andIndonesia .Pygmy possums range in length from about 50 to 120 millimetres long, and usually weigh between 10 and 50 grams. They are
nocturnal and omnivorous, living on a diet ofinvertebrate s,fruit ,seed ,nectar andpollen . They are excellent climbers, due in part to their possession of a prehensile tail. Although they cannot glide like some other species of possum, some species are able to leap a long distance. [cite book|author=Turner, Vivienne and McKay, G. M.|chapter=27. Burramyidae|editor=Walton, D.W. and Richardson, B. J. (eds)|year=1989|title=Fauna of Australia, Volume 1B: Mammalia|location=Canberra|publisher=Australian Government Publishing Service|id=ISBN 0-644-06056-5]Conservation International (CI) and theIndonesia Institute of Science (LIPI) reported on the possible discovery of a new species of "Cercartetus" pygmy possum upon visit to theFoja Mountains in June 2007. [ [http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gIZKPUU8Exc9IE9l5e9dMc70BxHw Afp.google.com, Two new mammals found in Indonesian 'lost world': green group] ]Classification
There are two genera of pygmy possums: "
Burramys " and "Cercartetus ". "Burramys" contains only one extant species, theMountain Pygmy Possum , "Burramys parvus". As currently understood, "Cercartetus" consists of four extant species.* Family Burramyidae: pygmy possums
** Genus "Burramys "
***Mountain Pygmy Possum , "Burramys parvus"
*** †"Burramys wakefieldi "
*** †"Burramys tridactylus "
*** †"Burramys brutyi "
** Genus "Cercartetus "
***Long-tailed Pygmy Possum , "Cercartetus caudatus"
***Western Pygmy Possum , "Cercartetus concinnus"
***Tasmanian Pygmy Possum , "Cercartetus lepidus"
***Eastern Pygmy Possum , "Cercartetus nanus"† = extinct species.
Gallery
References
External links
* [http://www.fmnh.helsinki.fi/users/haaramo/Metazoa/Deuterostoma/Chordata/Synapsida/Metatheria/Notometatheria/Diprotodontia/Phalangeriformes.htm Mikko's Phylogeny Archive]
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