Lemur-like ringtail possum

The lemur-like ringtail possum (Hemibelideus lemuroides), also known as the lemuroid ringtail possum or the brushy-tailed ringtail, is one of the most singular members of the ringtail possum group. It was once thought that they were gliding possums (Petauroides volans); Hemibelideus literally translates as "half-glider" (belideus being a diminutive form of Petaurus, meaning "glider").[3] They are similar to lemurs in their facial characteristics, which short snouts, large, forward-facing eyes and small ears, but similar to gliders in their musculo-skeletal adaptations to accommodate a leaping lifestyle. Their long, prehensile tail is a further adaptation to their arboreal habitat.[3]

Lemur-like ringtail possum[1]
In Queensland, Australia
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Infraclass: Marsupialia
Order: Diprotodontia
Family: Pseudocheiridae
Subfamily: Hemibelideinae
Genus: Hemibelideus
Collett 1884
Species:
H. lemuroides
Binomial name
Hemibelideus lemuroides
(Collett, 1884)
Lemur-like ringtail possum range

It has a bushier tail when compared to other ringtails, and can be distinguished from the greater glider by its lack of gliding membrane and much shorter, hairless ears. It is a social possum, and is found in two main colour forms: the more common brownish-gray form,[3] with a yellowish underbelly, and a rare white form, which occurred in the Daintree Rainforest and was last seen in 2005 in Mount Lewis National Park, and in 2008 believed to have been nearly extinct.[4][5][6]

This possum is found in a small area of only about 300,000 hectares in total, between Ingham and Cairns in Queensland, Australia, and in an isolated population on the Mount Carbine Tableland,[4] both within the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area.[6] They are strictly arboreal and live in the high canopies of mature forests and favour particular tree types, usually found above 480–900 metres in elevation. Body length is 30–38 cm and tail length 30–35 cm, weighing between 810 and 1140 grams.[3]

Stephen Williams, researcher on climate change and biodiversity at the Centre for Tropical Biodiversity and Climate Change at James Cook University, Queensland, stated that none were seen for several years after the heatwaves of 2005, when first a few were spotted (three were observed in the Daintree National Park, on Cape York Peninsula in 2009[7]) then increasing numbers as they slowly recovered.[6] Williams said in 2009 that there was no reason to believe the white variant would be impacted more than the brown.[7]

Then the next heatwave in struck in November 2018, when the Cairns region was hit by the highest temperatures since records began – even the highest mountain in the wet tropics reached 39 °C. Many tropical species cannot cope with extreme heat, not having evolved mechanisms to cool their bodies down, according to Williams; they can die from temperatures above 29 degrees. He said that over the past 15 years systematically species have started to disappear from the lower elevations, causing the total populations to decline as they are constrained to smaller areas at higher elevations. This puts pressure on creatures living in the mountain summits such as the lemuroid possum, which have nowhere else to go; the nearest rainforest is 1000 kilometres away.[6]

References
  1. Groves, C. P. (2005). Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 50–51. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. OCLC 62265494.
  2. Burnett, S. & Winter, J. (2008). "Hemibelideus lemuroides". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2008: e.T9869A13023084. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T9869A13023084.en.
  3. Humfleet, Jennifer (2006). "Hemibelideus lemuroides: lemuroid ringtail possum". Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  4. Menkhorst, Peter (2001). A Field Guide to the Mammals of Australia. Oxford University Press. p. 98.
  5. Malkin, Bonnie (3 December 2008). "Australia's white possum could be first victim of climate change". The Daily Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. ISSN 0307-1235. OCLC 49632006. Archived from the original on 30 July 2011. Retrieved 30 July 2011.
  6. Deacon, Ben (3 February 2019). "As the cloud forests get hotter, the white lemuroid possum gets closer to extinction". ABC News. Archived from the original on 3 February 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  7. Schwarten, Evan (27 March 2009). "'Extinct' possum found in Daintree". Nine News. Archived from the original on 30 July 2011. Retrieved 13 January 2010.
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