Cercartetus concinnus (Gould, 1845)

Russell A. Mittermeier & Don E. Wilson, 2015, Burramyidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 5 Monotremes and Marsupials, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 436-455 : 453-454

3.

Western Pygmy Possum

Cercartetus concinnus

French: Possum-loir de Gould / German: Diinnschwanz-Bilchbeutler / Spanish: Posum pigmeo occidental

Other common names: South-western Pygmy Possum, Elegant Dormouse Opossum, Lesser Dormouse-phalanger, Western Pygmy-possum

Taxonomy. Dromicia concinna Gould, 1845 ,

“ Western Australia.”

A subspecies of this taxon was described as the form minor in 1963 by N. Wakefield from a specimen collected in western Victoria, Australia; however, more recent authors have not recognized it. Monotypic.

Distribution. S Australia in three spatially disjunct populations, S Western Australia, S South Australia (including Kangaroo I), and from SE South Australia to W Victoria and SW New South Wales.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 6.4-10.6 cm, tail 5.3-10.1 cm; weight 8-21 g. The Western Pygmy Possum has fine, dense fawn to reddish-brown fur dorsally and light cream to white fur ventrally— lighter than other species of Cercartetus .

Western Pygmy Possums have very whiskered, short, and pointed snouts; large eyes to see at night; hairless rounded ears; and prehensile tails. Three molar teeth each side on upper and lower jaw. Females’ have well-developed pouches that open anteriorly.

Habitat. Semi-arid heathlands, shrublands, mallee woodlands, and dry forests, with structurally dense understories of Callistemon and Melaleuca (both Myrtaceae ) and Banksia , Grevillea , and Hakea (all Proteaceae ). In these habitats, Western Pygmy Possums deal with high temperatures and low rainfall.

Food and Feeding. The diet of the Western Pygmy Possum consists primarily of nectar and pollen from flowering trees, typically in the genera Banksia , Hakea , Grevillea , Eucalyptus , and Melaleuca . They have also been associated with Casuarina pauper, Acacia aneura, A. ligulata, Senna spp., Dodonaea spp., and chenopod shrubs such as Maireana spp. They also eat a variety of insects including moths.

Breeding. Female Western Pygmy Possums typically produce 4-6 young in all months of the year, allowing some females to have 2-3 litters in close succession. Young subsequently leave the pouch at ¢.25 days of age and are weaned by ¢.50 days of age. Females appear to reach sexual maturity at 12-15 months old.

Activity patterns. The Western Pygmy Possum is nocturnal, and during the day, it nests in various locations that provide camouflage and some protection from weather including tree hollows, sedges, debris piles, between dead inflorescences of Banksia , bases of large grass trees (Xanthorrhoea sp., Xanthorrhoeaceae ) and Banksia , and canopies of eucalypts. They also nest on the ground at any time, primarily at bases oftrees; nesting in Banksia was recorded a month after flowering. Western Pygmy Possums also frequently nest within leaves of grass trees, on the ground under spinifex grass (7riodia sp., Poaceae ), under leaves of sedge ( Lomandra sp. , Asparagaceae ), and trees and shrubs of the genus Leptospermum (Myrtaceae) .

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Little is known of movements of Western Pygmy Possums, but they appear to be very mobile, particularly on windy nights. They are thought to spend most oftheir time foraging in trees and large shrubs but will come to the ground to move among food sources when needed. In southeastern South Australia they have been reported to move 24-60 m between captures, with a maximum distance recorded of 195 m, and males appear to move further than females.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Western Pygmy Possum is listed as endangered in New South Wales. Conservation threats include predation by the domestic and feral cats and localized clearing of suitable scrub habitat during rural or urban development.

Bibliography. Burbidge, Morris et al. (2008), Cadzow & Carthew (2004), Carthew et al. (2008), Clark (1967), Harris (2009a), Kemp & Carthew (2004), Mansergh & Scotts (1990), Osborne & Christidis (2002a), Pearson et al. (1999), Pestell & Petit (2007a, 2007b), Ryan (1963), Wakefield (1963), Ward (1990b).

Figures

1. Mountain Pygmy Possum (Burramys parvus), 2. Long-tailed Pygmy Possum (Cercartetus caudatus), 3. Western Pygmy Possum (Cercartetus concinnus), 4. Little Pygmy Possum (Cercartetus lepidus), 5. Eastern Pygmy Possum (Cercartetus nanus)

Distribution. S Australia in three spatially disjunct populations, S Western Australia, S South Australia (including Kangaroo I), and from SE South Australia to W Victoria and SW New South Wales.