Mountain Pygmm Possum

Apperance
This small marsupital is the largest of the pygmm possums even though only attains a length of 100 to 115 millimetres. It has grey-brown dense fur above and a lighter grey to cream below and it depend on the location. 

Weight
 The mountain pygmy possum's weight averages 45 g.
Length
The Mountain pygmm possum's lenght is from100 millimetres to 115 millimetres with tail extending another 140 millimetres.

Habitat
It is found at altitudes of 1400 - 2200 m, in the alpine and subalpine zones. Its distribution correlates with glacial boulder-rock screes. A variety of vegetation over rocks is present, most distinctive being heathland. The shrub cover at lower altitudes is dense and there are some trees, usually snow gums. It Mountain Pygmm Possum is the only mammal species that is restricted to alphine and sub-alphine areas. The males and females life apart from each other and only meet at breeding times.The mountain pygmy possum is terrestrial and nocturnal and sleeps in a nest during the day. In 1991, 80% of the breeding adults were estimated to be females. This may be due to the fact that adult females permanently inhabit the best locations on the rocky slopes while the males live on the margins. The areas occupied by the females can support a greater population and they have a better chance than the males of surviving more than one season. To survive its harsh habitat, the moutain pgymy-possum can go into a state of torpor when it gets very cold. Their periods of hibernation may last up to a week at a time, interupted only for feeding. 

Eating and Diet Habits
The mountain pygmm possum diet consist of fruits, seeds, vegetable matter and insects it favorite diet is the Bogong moth.

Predators
The Mountain pygmm possum does not have many predators in high altitudes since it is safe from feral animals.

Breeding Habits
For most of the year the males and females appear to live apart from each other. The males migrate to the female's habitat in order to breed and then return to their habitat when the young are being weaned. The birth seasons are November and December when usually four offspring are born. The young develop in the mother’s vacant pouch when they are only a few weeks old. Thereafter they live in the nest.

Locations
It is restricted to altitudes of 1400 - 2200 m in the alpine and subalpine zones of Australia. As of 1992, there were two geographically isolated populations, Mt. Bogong - Mt. Higginbotham (Victoria) and Kosciusko NP (New South Wales).

 It is

Numbers
Previously known only from fossils found in New South Wales and Victoria, the mountain pygmy possum was discovered to be alive in 1966 when found in a ski hut in Mount Hotham Victoria. It current estimated population is beleived to be 2,300 animals.

Problems

•  The areas occupied by the females can support a greater population and they have a better chance than the males of surviving more than one season. So males sometimes only last one breeding season.
• The males and females must meet for breeding and they are scared off from breeding by ski resorts and roads and may not breed.
• The males may be killed on the roads trying to reach the females.
• habitat loss through ski resort development and domestic livestock and back burning causing great damage in the last 100 years.
• The Bogong moths numbers have also dropped since they move toward humans artifical light and not to easy places were the pygmm possum can find them.

Solutions

• The ski resorts have been very good in fixing this problem by making special areas of tunnels or ditches.
• Watch were you are driving.
• Making the Kosciusko NP to protect vegetation so  domestic lifestock can not damge it.
• Massive revegetation was undertaken by the government to fix the area up.
• inform the public about threatened species issues.
• encourage habitat retention and restoration.
• encourage the community-based collection of more information about the species and its habitat.
• ongoing habitat management.
• translocation to other sites.
• ongoing monitoring and biological studies.
• genetic assessment of all populations.
• support your local environment groups.
• raise money for the rehabilitation of sites for Mountain Pygmm Possum.
• learn more about endangered animals, particularly those native to your area.
• be a responsible pet owner so they do not impact on Mountain Pygmm Possum or other wildlife.
• help in the eradication of foxes, cats and rabbits.
• protect remnant native vegetation under Heritage Agreement and by excluding stock .
• revegetate cleared land with indigenous plants.