Honey possum

The honey possum (Tarsipes rostratus), also known by the native names tait and noolbenger, is a tiny Australian marsupial. It is the only species in the genus Tarsipes and in the family Tarsipedidae.

Many authorities believe it is sufficiently distinct to be more properly raised to a separate superfamily within the Diprotodontia, or perhaps even further. It is thought to be the sole survivor of an otherwise long-extinct marsupial group.

It is an important pollinator for such plants as Banksia attenuata, Banksia coccinea or Adenanthos cuneatus.

Description

Male honey possums weigh just 7 to 11 g (0.25 to 0.39 oz), and females weigh 8 to 16 g (0.28 to 0.56 oz); about half the weight of a mouse. Their body length ranges from 6.5 to 9 cm (2.6 to 3.5 in). Its teeth are fewer and smaller than is typical for marsupials, with the molars reduced to tiny cones, and a dental formula of

It is one of the very few entirely nectarivorous mammals; it has a long, pointed snout and a long, protrusible tongue with a brush tip that gathers pollen and nectar, like a honeyeater or a hummingbird. Floral diversity is particularly important for the honey possum, as it cannot survive without a year-round supply of nectar and, unlike nectarivorous birds, it cannot easily travel long distances in search of fresh supplies.