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.
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 Possums 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.
