©Jacqui Rock: Striped Possum
Colours
Distinguishing features
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
Its fourth finger is elongated relative to the others (like the third finger of the Aye-aye, another rainforest mammal) and is used to take beetles and caterpillars from tree bark. (Wikipedia)
Size
- Up to 27 cm (Body length)
- Up to 33 cm (Tail length)
Synonyms
Distribution
©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution
Distribution and habitat preferences
It lives in rainforests and eucalypt woodland along the east coast of Cape York Peninsula and as far south as Townsville in Queensland, Australia, but is more commonly found in New Guinea, as well as several other small islands in the area. (Wikipedia)
Local abundance
- Australia: It is uncommon and rarely seen in Australia.
Diet
The striped possum eats leaves, fruits, and small vertebrates. Its main diet consists of wood-boring insect larvae which are extracted from rotten branches probing with its elongated fourth finger and its powerful incisor teeth which are used to rip open tree bark to expose insects.
It detects the larvae by a rapid drumming along branches with the toes of its forefoot. The fourth finger has an unusual hooked nail which it uses to extract insects out of cracks. (Wikipedia)
