Winter occurrence of the Mountain Pygmy-possum, Burramys parvus (Broom) (Marsupialia: Burramyidae), on Mt Higginbotham, Victoria.

Abstract

Between June, 1982 and October, 1984 traps were laid in the subnivean space of the optimal breeding habitat of Burramys parvus. Mean trapping success during both the snow-free and post-snow periods was more than 12%. No B. parvus were caught in traps set under the snow; the animals either have long periods of torpor and/or their activity is limited to feeding from their food caches, which are presumably located near to the nest (s). Food caches were similar to those of Burramys in captivity. In only one of 14 buildings located within 100 m of B. parvus habitat on Mt Higginbotham was B. parvus trapped during the snow period. In that building, the University Ski Club Lodge (USCL), where the mean trapping success was 28%, 10 females and 13 males were caught. Most of the females were caught during late October. About 50% of animals had been previously tagged during the snow-free period. During the snow period, the number of adult females moving to the USCL was few (8.1% of previous taggings, compared to adult males, 21%). Males returned to female breeding habitat during the breeding season October-November. These data suggest that the Burramys population is sexually segregated during the nonbreeding season.