Leadbeater's Possum Facts

Leadbeater's possum is a small Australian marsupial in the family Petauridae. It is closely related to a number of Australian gliding mammals and is the only species in its family that cannot glide. It lacks winglike membranes that are common in its close relatives and is considered one of the most primitive members of its scientific family.

  1. Description

    • Leadbeater's possum grows to be almost 12 inches long, nose to tail, and weighs around 5 ounces. It has a ratlike body shape with a gray-brown coat and a long, bushy tail. The possum has a darker-colored stripe running along its back, and its underside is a pale color. Its ears are large and rounded, and its eyes are large and circular. Faint black stripes are present above the eyes, along the cheeks and behind the ears.

    Habitat and Range

    • The species is native to Australia and is only found in a small, 2,100-square-mile region in Victoria's remote highlands. It is considered one of the most remote populations of marsupials in the world. The possum is found living at altitudes between 1,640 to 4,921 feet in open forests. The area in which it lives tends to get large amounts of yearly rainfall. The possum needs dead trees in which to nest, and it prefers mountain ash. This nesting need limits the population size of the species.

    Diet and Predators

    • This possum finds much of its food under the tree bark of eucalyptus trees in the form of beetles, crickets and other invertebrates. The possum also feeds on certain tree and plant saps as well as the secretions of some insects. It spends much of its life living in the trees and is generally only at risk from birds of prey such as owls.

    Life Cycle

    • The species lives in small groups with six to eight individuals commonly sharing the same dead tree nesting site. Breeding takes place almost year-round with the exception of January and February. Pregnancies are short, lasting between 15 to 20 days, and the offspring immediately crawl to the mother's pouch. After about three months they leave the pouch, but they are not weaned until they're about 10 to 15 months old. Sexual maturity is reached at around 2 years of age.