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SPECIES PROFILE

Mountain Pygmy Possum (Burramys parvus)

Burramys

IUCN STATUS

Critically Endangered

Mountain Pygmy Possum (Burramys parvus) — Restricted to alpine regions of Victoria and New South Wales

CONSERVATION STATUS

Critically Endangered

CLASS

Mammalia

GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE

Restricted to alpine regions of Victoria and New South Wales

DIET

Omnivorous

HABITAT

Alpine and subalpine boulder fields and heathlands

🔬 Classification

PHYLUM

Chordata

CLASS

Mammalia

ORDER

Diprotodontia

FAMILY

Burramyidae

GENUS

Burramys

📋 Description

SIZE

10-12 cm long (body), plus a 14 cm tail; weighs 35-80 grams

COLORATION

Grey-brown with darker markings around eyes and a lighter belly

ADAPTATIONS

Thick fur for cold, prehensile tail for climbing

🌿 Ecology

HABITAT

Alpine and subalpine boulder fields and heathlands

DIET

Omnivorous

GEOGRAPHIC RANGE

Restricted to alpine regions of Victoria and New South Wales

REPRODUCTION

1-4 joeys born after a 14-16 day gestation, stay in pouch for about 30 days

DIET DETAILS

Eats seeds, fruits, insects, and the Bogong moth during migration

⚠️ Threats & Conservation

PRIMARY THREATS

Climate change, habitat loss, and predation by foxes and cats

💡 Interesting Facts

1

Snow Hibernators: Mountain pygmy possums hibernate 7 months under Kosciuszko’s snow, slowing metabolism to survive -15°C on stored fat. With only 2,000 left, their alpine boulder fields face warming, threatening this unique marsupial’s survival.

2

Moth Banqueters: In spring, they feast on 20 grams of Bogong moths nightly in Mount Hotham, fueling breeding in a critical energy boost. Conservation fences in Bogong High Plains protect their fragile habitat from ski resort impacts, preserving their ecological role.

🔭 Sighting Guide

📍 BEST PLACES TO SIGHT

Kosciuszko National Park in New South Wales has Charlotte Pass and Thredbo boulder fields for possum sightings

Mount Hotham Alpine Resort in Victoria features alpine regions near ski slopes for possum sightings

Bogong High Plains in Victoria near Falls Creek within Alpine National Park is ideal for possum sightings

🗓️ BEST TIME TO SIGHT

December-February. Summer makes possums active in alpine boulderfields for foraging.

🎯 SIGHTING TIPS

Join guided tours to spot possums in rocky habitats at night.