Eastern Pygmy Possum
Cercartetus nanus
Silhouette: T. Michael Keesey · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassMammalia (Mammals)
- OrderDiprotodontia (Kangaroos, Possums, Wombats, and Allies)
- FamilyBurramyidae (Pygmy Possums)
- GenusCercartetus (Typical Pygmy Possums)
- SpeciesCercartetus nanus (Eastern Pygmy Possum)
About the Eastern Pygmy Possum
The eastern pygmy possum (Cercartetus nanus) is a diprotodont marsupial of south-eastern Australia. Occurring from southern Queensland to eastern South Australia and also Tasmania, it is found in a range of habitats, including rainforest, sclerophyll forest, woodland and heath.
The eastern pygmy possum is the type species of the genus Cercartetus (family Burramyidae), and was first described as Phalangista nana with the specific name meaning 'dwarf' in Latin. Currently, the authority for the specific name is widely accepted as Desmarest 1818, but in a review recently published, it was pointed out that an earlier version of Desmarest's account was published in 1817.
Names synonymous with Cercartetus nanus are Phalangista glirifomis (Bell, 1828) and Dromicia britta (Wood Jones, 1925). These coincide with the two subspecies C. n. nanus (Desmarest, 1818) (the Tasmanian subspecies) and C. n. unicolor (Krefft, 1863) (the mainland Australian subspecies).
Vernacular names that have been used for this species include dwarf phalanger, minute phalanger, dwarf cuscus, pigmy phalanger, Bell's Dromicia, opossum mouse, dusky Dromicia, pygmy opossum, thick-tailed Dromicia... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Eastern Pygmy Possum in Great Otway National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Great Otway National Park
Koala
Phascolarctos cinereus
Eastern Grey Kangaroo
Macropus giganteus
Swamp Wallaby
Wallabia bicolor
Common Ringtail Possum
Pseudocheirus peregrinus
Common Brushtail
Trichosurus vulpecula
Red-necked Wallaby
Notamacropus rufogriseus
Yellow-bellied Glider
Petaurus australis
Inland Sugar Glider
Petaurus notatus
Long-nosed Potoroo
Potorous tridactylus
Feather-tailed Glider
Acrobates pygmaeus
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamington National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 2 | Blue Mountains National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 3 | Great Otway National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 4 | Freycinet National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 5 | Grampians National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 6 | Wilsons Promontory National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 7 | Springbrook National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 8 | Kosciuszko National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 9 | Royal National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Eastern Pygmy Possum in Great Otway National Park?
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Eastern Pygmy Possum sighting in Great Otway National Park, based on 7 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Eastern Pygmy Possum in Great Otway National Park?
March has the highest sighting rate for Eastern Pygmy Possum in Great Otway National Park in our monthly data.