These were Southern Brown Bandicoot Isoodon obesulus obesulus, Swamp Antechinus Antechinus minimus maritimus, White-footed Dunnart Sminthopsis leucopus and Eastern
Pygmy Possum Cercartetus nanus.
At the temperate end of the Great Dividing Range, rising temperatures are expected to add additional pressure to the endangered Mountain
pygmy possum, which hibernates beneath the winter snow on some of Australia's highest peaks.
Time is fast running out for one of Australia's most charismatic marsupials, the threatened mountain
pygmy possum (Burramys parvus).
Of the small mammal taxa, all but the Eastern
Pygmy Possum (Cercartetus nanus) were recorded.
From mammals such as the
pygmy possum we saw some of the longest, stickiest and most productive tongues this side of Swedish Nursemaids 10.
A ringtail possum (left) and a
pygmy possum are treated by a wildlife official in Sydney, Australia
Other arboreal species, Eastern
Pygmy Possum Cercartetus nanus and Little
Pygmy Possum Cercartetus lepidus, are listed as near threatened on the Advisory List but not listed under the FFG.
'Our deep sustainability pedagogy involves spurning doom and gloom, not getting on your soapbox, and understanding the link between turning on a light switch and its effect on biodiversity and the fate of a mountain
pygmy possum, for instance.'
Above us, as we played with a
pygmy possum, exotic birds flew freely among the branches of the luxuriant tropical trees.
A long-term population study of the critically endangered Mountain
Pygmy Possum Burramys parvus, revealed that the Great Alpine Road bisected important habitat patches (Mansergh and Scotts 1989).
A temperature increase of just 0.9[degrees]C, according to Dr Jones, would be enough for the mountain
pygmy possum to completely lose its unique 'bioclimatic envelope' (climate-suitable habitat range).