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Striped Possum
A rare possum to see in the pet trade, perhaps due to the
difficulty in captive breeding? They are nevertheless one of the
most beautiful of the possum family! It has a distinctive black and
white stripped coat with a pronounced white Y on the face. Longer
than a black rat in the body, it has a large head, a long body and
bushy tail, prominent ears and an elongated fourth finger.
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Striped Possum
Dactylopsila trivirgata
Slightly built with a variable pattern of black and white stripes
which run along the length of its body. Toes are highly furred and
elongated, with the fourth finger particularly elongated. Has a
clinging pungent odor and an unusual way of walking, that is, along
horizontal branches with a rowing action (simultaneous swinging
movement of diagonally opposite limbs).
Its position can usually be traced by the noises of its slurping and
chewing, or from the falling of litter from its perch.
Habitat:
Quite sparse in Australia, more widespread in Papua New Guinea. This
energetic possum digs for grubs in rotting wood and also eats fruit
and flowers. Although usually found in rainforest, from the wet
tropics to the tip of the Cape York Peninsula, it may venture well
in eucalypt woodland.
Diet:
Food finding activities include searching through tree trunks, limbs
and fallen rotting logs to find grubs and other insects. It uses its
sharp lower incisors to break away the bark, or its tongue to
extract insects from deep holes and cracks.
Striped possums are particularly adept at locating and teasing
beetle larvae out of dead wood, using their elongated fourth
fingers. Logs prised apart by striped possums are a common sight in
the lowland Wet Tropics. (Source: Environmental Protection Agency)
Also feeds on leaves, fruit, small vertebrates and the honey of
native bees.
Social Behaviour:
Even though its a conspicuous animal, the fact that the Striped
Possum is a rare and shy animal makes it one of the least known
possums in Australia.
Additional Information:
Other common names for the Striped Possum include the Striped
Phalanger, White-footed Phalanger and the Common Striped Possum.
It is widely distributed throughout rainforests and adjacent
woodlands from Mount Spec in Queensland to the tip of Cape York
Peninsula. It is more common in Papua New Guinea.
It is a nocturnal animal, thus spending its days sleeping in a leafy
nest inside a tree hollow, or amongst epiphytes that have grown into
clumps.
Breeding:
Almost nothing is known about the Striped Possum’s social life, and
the reason for its strong, musty odor is not understood. Mating
usually occurs between February and August. Up to 2 young are born,
and there are 2 teats in the pouch. It may be difficult to breed
these possums in captivity without a very diligent effort to
reproduce the possums native range and habitat. They may require
quite large aviary habitats before they will mate.
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