Striped Possum
Dactylopsila trivirgata
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassMammalia (Mammals)
- OrderDiprotodontia (Kangaroos, Possums, Wombats, and Allies)
- FamilyPetauridae (Wrist-winged Gliders, Trioks, and allies)
- GenusDactylopsila (Trioks)
- SpeciesDactylopsila trivirgata (Striped Possum)
About the Striped Possum
The striped possum or common striped possum (Dactylopsila trivirgata) is a member of the marsupial family Petauridae. It is found mainly in New Guinea. The species is black with three white stripes running head to tail, and its head has white stripes that form a 'Y' shape. It is closely related to the sugar glider, and is similar in appearance.
The striped possum was first described by John Edward Gray in 1858 from a specimen sent from the Aru Islands (in Indonesia) to the British Museum by Alfred Russel Wallace. Gray gave the species the name Dactylopsila trivirgata in 1858, the name the species retains today. The illustration that appeared alongside the first description was produced by Joseph Wolf.
The striped possum is most commonly found in New Guinea as well as several other small islands in the area (including the Solomon Islands). It also lives in Queensland, Australia, in rainforests and eucalypt woodland along the east coast of Cape York Peninsula and as far south as Townsville, but is uncommon and rarely seen in Australia.
This possum looks like a black and white squirrel. It is solitary, mostly nocturnal, arboreal, and builds... Wikipedia →
Closest Relatives at Raja Ampat
Waigeou Cuscus
Spilocuscus papuensis
Northern Common Cuscus
Phalanger orientalis
Common Spotted Cuscus
Spilocuscus maculatus
Feather-tailed Possum
Distoechurus pennatus
Brown Dorcopsis
Dorcopsis muelleri
Black-spotted Cuscus
Spilocuscus rufoniger
Gebe Cuscus
Phalanger alexandrae
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daintree National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 2 | Raja Ampat | 🇮🇩 Indonesia |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Striped Possum in Raja Ampat?
About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Striped Possum sighting in Raja Ampat, based on 19 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Striped Possum in Raja Ampat?
August has the highest sighting rate for Striped Possum in Raja Ampat in our monthly data.