Mountain Pygmy-possum
Burramys parvus
Anne Bowman
Print of original artwork - Anne works in pastel, watercolour & pencil.
15cm x 20cm
The Mountain Pygmy-possum, thought to be extinct until 1966, is Australia's sole hibernating alpine marsupial. It weighs just 4.5 grams, and lives only at altitudes over 1200m in the High Country of north-eastern Victoria and the Snowy Mountains of southern New South Wales, where are three known genetically distinct populations. There is less than 6 square km of its boulderfield-heath habitat left.
Mountain Pygmy-possums live predominantly in boulderfields and rock screes with surrounding shrubby heath, characteristically with Mountains Plum-pine growing over the rocks. During winter, this creates a space under the snow that is relatively humid and warm. Often habitat patches are small and isolates, but pygmy-possums (mainly males and juveniles) frequently move between them if there is sufficient cover. There is less than 6 square km of boulderfield-heath habitat.
During the warm months, a diet of bogong moths, other arthropods such as caterpillars, beetles and spiders, nectar, fruits and seeds prepares the animal for hibernation of up to 7 months.
Usually one litter is born after snow melt in spring. Generally four young are born per litter.
Threats to the Mountain Pygmy-possum include loss of habitat and disruption of movements between habitat patches from development of roads, ski runs and ski resort infrastructure, introduces cats and foxes, increased temperatures, loss of snow cover and decreased rainfall as a result of climate change, fire and weeds. The estimates possum population is around 950 adults in NSW and 1750 in Victoria (2014).
The Mountain Pygmy-possum is listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN and Endangered under the EPBC Act.
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