Leadbeater's possum
Leadbeater's possum (Gymnobelideus leadbeateri) is an endangered species of Australian possum. They need food all year round, and trees with holes where they can hide during the day. They live in mixed-age wet sclerophyll forest with plenty of Acacia.
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The possum was once thought to be extinct. It now lives only in small areas of old and mixed age mountain ash forest in the central highlands of Victoria, north-east of Melbourne.
These trees are a species of Eucalyptus: they give off vapour which catches fire easily. About half this area was burnt in the disastrous Black Saturday bushfire in 2009. Large areas of the forest around Marysville, Narbethong and Healesville were destroyed.[3]
Leadbeater's Possum Media
George, a taxidermied male Leadbeater's possum (Gymnobelideus leadbeateri), that Friends of Leadbeater's Possum uses for its educational work concerning this threatened species.
George was found dead but intact on the side of a logging road about 2011 in the Victorian Central Highlands. It is assumed that George's home in the mountain ash (Eucalyptus regnans) forests was a victim of logging, and as his home was being carted away he fell off the logging truck.
David Lindenmayer talking about the preservation of the Leadbeater's possum in Melbourne
References
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Wikispecies has information on: Gymnobelideus leadbeateri. |
- ↑ Groves, Colin (16 November 2005). Wilson, D. E., and Reeder, D. M. (eds) (ed.). Mammal Species of the World (3rd edition ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 54. ISBN 0-801-88221-4.
{{cite book}}: Check date values in:|date=(help);|edition=has extra text (help);|editor=has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: editors list (link) - ↑ Menkhorst, P. (2008). Gymnobelideus leadbeateri. 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2008. Retrieved on 28 December 2008. Database entry tells why this species is listed as endangered
- ↑ A million native animals may have died in Victorian bushfires. The Australian. Feb 11, 2009. http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25040273-30417,00.html. Retrieved 2009-02-12.
Other websites
Leadbeater's possum from ARKive
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