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SPECIES PROFILE

Honey Possum (Tarsipes rostratus)

Tarsipes

IUCN STATUS

Least Concern

Honey Possum (Tarsipes rostratus) — Southwestern Western Australia

CONSERVATION STATUS

Least Concern

CLASS

Mammalia

GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE

Southwestern Western Australia

DIET

Nectarivorous

HABITAT

Heathlands and shrublands with nectar-producing plants

🔬 Classification

PHYLUM

Chordata

CLASS

Mammalia

ORDER

Diprotodontia

FAMILY

Tarsipedidae

GENUS

Tarsipes

📋 Description

SIZE

7-10 cm long (body), plus a 9-11 cm tail; weighs 7-17 grams

COLORATION

Brownish-grey with three dark stripes along the back, cream underbelly

ADAPTATIONS

Long snout and brush-tipped tongue for nectar feeding, prehensile tail

🌿 Ecology

HABITAT

Heathlands and shrublands with nectar-producing plants

DIET

Nectarivorous

GEOGRAPHIC RANGE

Southwestern Western Australia

REPRODUCTION

2-4 joeys born after a 28-day gestation, stay in pouch for about 60 days

DIET DETAILS

Feeds exclusively on nectar and pollen from native flowers

⚠️ Threats & Conservation

PRIMARY THREATS

Habitat loss and fire regime changes affecting food plants

💡 Interesting Facts

1

Nectar Specialists: Honey possums pollinate 100 banksia flowers nightly in Fitzgerald River National Park, their 3 cm tongue sipping nectar. As one of few nectarivorous mammals, their millions-strong population sustains Western Australia’s heathlands.

2

Tiny Leapers: At 10 grams, they leap between Two Peoples Bay’s shrubs with prehensile tails, foraging at night in Stirling Range’s blooms. Fire management protects their habitat, ensuring nectar flows for this delicate marsupial’s survival.

🔭 Sighting Guide

📍 BEST PLACES TO SIGHT

Fitzgerald River National Park in Western Australia on south coast between Albany and Esperance is ideal for possum sightings

Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve in Western Australia east of Albany has coastal shrublands for possum sightings

Stirling Range National Park in Western Australia north of Albany features ranges for possum sightings

🗓️ BEST TIME TO SIGHT

August-November. Spring flowering season makes possums active in heathlands for nectar feeding.

🎯 SIGHTING TIPS

Search flowering banksias at dusk to spot possums feeding.