Status: | Species: | Common Name: | Last Update: |
---|---|---|---|
Offline | Acrobates pygmaeus | Feathertail Glider | ----- |
Offline | Burramys parvus | Mountain Pygmy Possum | ----- |
Offline | Cercartetus caudatus | Long-tailed Pygmy Possum | ----- |
Offline | Cercartetus concinnus | Western Pygmy Possum | ----- |
Offline | Cercartetus lepidus | Tasmanian Pygmy Possum | ----- |
Offline | Cercartetus nanus | Eastern Pygmy Possum | ----- |
Offline | Distoechurus pennatus | Feathertail Possum | ----- |
The family Burramyidae consists of small, nocturnal marsupials commonly known as pygmy possums, native to Australia and New Guinea. Members of this family are characterized by their tiny size, prehensile tails, and arboreal lifestyle, often inhabiting forests, woodlands, and shrublands. They are omnivorous, feeding on nectar, pollen, fruits, and insects, and play an important role in pollination for some native plants. Burramyids are nocturnal and solitary, with many species capable of entering torpor to conserve energy during cold or resource-scarce periods. Reproduction typically involves a short gestation and the birth of underdeveloped young that continue development in the mother’s pouch. This family is notable for its ecological importance in native habitats and its adaptation to arboreal life despite its small size.