Nest use by western pygmy-possums (Cercartetus concinnus) (Marsupialia : Burramyidae) at Innes National Park, South Australia
Damian S. Morrant A B and Sophie Petit A C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Sustainable Environments Research Group, School of Natural and Built Environments, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, SA 5095, Australia.
B Current address: School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Cairns, Qld 4870, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: sophie.petit@unisa.edu.au
Australian Mammalogy 33(1) 28-32 https://doi.org/10.1071/AM10022
Submitted: 17 July 2010 Accepted: 18 November 2010 Published: 23 March 2011
Abstract
We examined the nest use of 15 radio-tracked western pygmy-possums (Cercartetus concinnus) throughout one year for up to nine nights each at Innes National Park, South Australia. At least one pygmy-possum was followed in each of 12 months. Nest type and nest fidelity varied greatly; shallow burrows under debris were the most frequently used. Nest preferences of females with young remain unknown. The ability of C. concinnus to use a diversity of nest types over relatively short periods is likely to be an important survival strategy.
Additional keywords: burrow, den, hollow, nest faithfulness, shelter, small mammal.
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