Southwestern Pygmy Possum

Taxobox
name = Southwestern Pygmy PossumMSW3 Groves|pages=44-45]
status = LC
status_system = iucn3.1
status_ref = IUCN2006 | assessors = Australasian Marsupial & Monotreme Specialist Group | year = 1996 | title = Cercartetus concinnus | id = 40576 | downloaded = 2006-12-26]


regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Mammalia
infraclassis = Marsupialia
ordo = Diprotodontia
familia = Burramyidae
genus = "Cercartetus"
species = "C. concinnus"
binomial = "Cercartetus concinnus"
binomial_authority = (Gould, 1845)

The Southwestern Pygmy Possum ("Cercartetus concinnus"), commonly known as the Western Pygmy Possum or the Mundarda, is a small marsupial found in Australia. 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. It is also found on in far south-western New South Wales. cite book | last = Menkhorst | first = Peter | year = 2001 | title = A Field Guide to the Mammals of Australia | publisher = Oxford University Press | pages = 88]

The Southwestern Pygmy Possum is one of the most unusual members of its four-strong genus, as unlike its grey relatives, it is coloured a bright cinnamon colour. It is nocturnal and feeds on invertebrates and nectar.

References

External links

* [http://www.westernwildlife.com.au/western/mammals/pygmy.htm Western Wildlife including photo]
* [http://museumvictoria.com.au/bioinformatics/mammals/images/thumbmar.htm
]
* [http://museumvictoria.com.au/bioinformatics/mammals/images/thumblmar.htm
]