Tarsipedidae
| Honey possum | |
|---|---|
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Infraclass: | Marsupialia |
| Order: | Diprotodontia |
| Family: |
Tarsipedidae Gervais & Verreaux, 1842 |
| Genus: |
Tarsipes Gervais & Verreaux, 1842 |
| Species: | T. rostratus |
| Binomial name | |
|
Tarsipes rostratus Gervais & Verreaux, 1842 |
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| Honey possum range | |
| Synonyms | |
The honey possum (Tarsipes rostratus), also known by the native names tait and noolbenger, is a tiny Australian marsupial. It is the only species in the genus Tarsipes and in the family Tarsipedidae.
Many authorities believe it is sufficiently distinct to be more properly raised to a separate superfamily within the Diprotodontia, or perhaps even further. It is thought to be the sole survivor of an otherwise long-extinct marsupial group.
It is an important pollinator for such plants as Banksia attenuata, Banksia coccinea or Adenanthos cuneatus.
Male honey possums weigh just 7 to 11 g (0.25 to 0.39 oz), and females weigh 8 to 16 g (0.28 to 0.56 oz); about half the weight of a mouse. Their body length ranges from 6.5 to 9 cm (2.6 to 3.5 in). Its teeth are fewer and smaller than is typical for marsupials, with the molars reduced to tiny cones, and a dental formula of
It is one of the very few entirely nectarivorous mammals; it has a long, pointed snout and a long, protrusible tongue with a brush tip that gathers pollen and nectar, like a honeyeater or a hummingbird. Floral diversity is particularly important for the honey possum, as it cannot survive without a year-round supply of nectar and, unlike nectarivorous birds, it cannot easily travel long distances in search of fresh supplies.
Radio-tracking has shown, however, that males particularly are quite mobile, moving distances of up to 0.5 km in a night and with use areas averaging 0.8 hectares. Both its front and back feet are adept at grasping, enabling it to climb trees with ease, as well as traverse the undergrowth at speed. The honey possum can also use its prehensile tail (which is longer than its head and body combined) to grip, much like another arm.
They have a typical lifespan between one and two years.
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Wikipedia