Striped possum

The striped possum is an arboreal marsupial native to the tropical rainforests of New Guinea and the Cape York Peninsula in Australia. It spends almost its entire life high in the forest canopy, making it notoriously difficult to spot in the wild. They require dense, mature tropical woodlands to forage for their specific diet of insects and tree fruit.

Striped possums primarily feed on insect larvae, ants, and the sweet nectar or pulp of various rainforest trees. They use their elongated fourth finger and strong incisors to extract wood-boring grubs from tree bark, functioning much like a woodpecker. They also possess a specialized tongue designed to lap up insects from deep crevices.

No, despite being in the same family (Petauridae) as the sugar glider and the squirrel glider, the striped possum lacks a patagium. The patagium is the skin membrane between the wrists and ankles required to glide through the air. Instead, they rely on their sharp claws and prehensile tail to skillfully climb and leap between solid branches in the rainforest canopy.

The striped possum is roughly the size of a squirrel, measuring about 25 centimeters in body length, with a long, bushy tail that adds another 30 centimeters. It is easily identified by its striking black and white longitudinal stripes running down its back, closely resembling a skunk. It also features a highly elongated fourth finger on its front hands used for extracting prey.