Annotated Records of the Feathertail Glider 'Acrobates Pygmaeus' from the 'Victorian Naturalist'

2006·2.5 MB·English

by  Jamie M, Maloney Harris

Contributions
Annotated records ofthe Feathertail Glider
Acrobatespygmaeus from The Victorian Naturalist
Jamie M Harris' and K Shane Maloney2
1SchoolofEnvironmentalScienceandManagement,SouthernCrossUniversity,
LismoreNSW2480Email:[email protected];
departmentofBiologicalSciences,UniversityofWollongong,NSW2522
Email:[email protected])
Abstract
The Victorian Naturalist was surveyed for past records ofthe Feathertail Glider Acrobates
pygmaeus. We document many important records oftheir occurrence, as well as accounts on their
feeding and behaviour. This reportshould beuseful to researchersseekingprimary source observa-
tionsofthisspecies.(The VictorianNaturalist 123(3),2006, 157-165)
Introduction
The Feathertail Glider Acrobates pyg- (Anon 1887; Anon 1896a; Anon 1908;
maeus (familyAcrobatidae) is a small (10- Anon 1913; Anon 1918); and ‘specimens
14 g) cryptic marsupial, which has a wide ofthe Hying opossum mouse’ by Mr C
distribution in eastern Australia from far Frenchon 9July 1888 (Anon 1888). On 13
northern Queensland (QLD), through New July 1896. JA Kershaw exhibited a
South Wales (NSW)and Victoria (VIC)to Feathertail Glider ‘with three young, taken
the south-east of South Australia (SA) from nest composed ofgum leaves under
(Strahan 1995; Lindenmayer 2002; the bark of large eucalypt. South
Goldingay and Jackson 2004). In Victoria Gippsland’ (Anon 1896b). On 16 January
the species is currently considered 1905, EB Nicholis exhibited a specimen of
"Secure’ (Henry 1995) and/or ‘Common’ the "Pigmy Flying-Mouse’ captured at
(van der Ree at at. 2004). However, docu- ‘Olinda Creek, South Wandin’ (Anon
mentinghistorical and more recent records 1905). On 11 August 1930, JA Kershaw,
oftheir occurrence in Victoria and else- then Director ofthe National Museum of
where will be important for assessment of Victoria, exhibited a ‘Pigmy Flying
their ecology and conservation. To this Phalanger’ (Anon 1930) and this was pos-
end, this paper presents an annotated sibly the same specimen earlier exhibited
chronology ofFeathertail Gliderrecords in byhim in 1896 (seeabove).
The Victorian Naturalist 884-2005). At Mount Disappointment, Barnard
(1
Feathertail Glider records from The c(a19p1tu1r)ednoattedJacthka’tsaCr‘eHeykinagqumeoduucste.’Twhaiss
VictorianNaturalist animal was caught as it ran into a ‘grass
In Volume 1 ofThe Victorian Naturalist, tussock' and forwarded to the National
the ‘Opossum Mouse’ Petauruspygmeus Museum of Victoria (now Museum
(=A. pygmaeus) was noted as part ofthe Victoria). The collection time wasnoted as
Victorian mammalian fauna (Forbes Leith 5 o’clock in the afternoon, and this was
and Lucas 1884). Feathertail Glider speci- thoughtunusual on accountofitsnocturnal
mens were subsequently exhibited at habits. When the report was read to a
numerous early meetings of the Club, meeting ofthe Club on 13 March 1911,
piyncglmuadienugs‘]a cbayseTwAithFoorpboesssuLmeimtihce’on[=2A9. tEhBe aNfitcehronloiosnswaihdenthahteictawpatusre3doh’icsloscpkecii-n
April 1885 (see Cresswell 1885); a ‘flying men(Anon 1911).
mouse from Langi Kal Kal, Victoria’ by Mathews and Iredale (1912) reviewed a
M18a8r5y);Saim"spoainr oonf H1y0inJgunmeic1e8’85by(AFnGoAn raanrde bmoeonktiwornittweansbymaGdeoergtehatPertrhyis(1w8o1r1k)
Barnard of Kew, Victoria on 28 April included information on the Feathertail
1887, 28-29 May 1896, 22-23 September Glider. A copy ofthis book we examined,
1908, 8 September 1913 and 10 June 1918
Vol. 123 (3) 2006 157
y
]
Contributions
revealed an interesting illustration ofthis well advanced when Fleay arrived. Several
species (Fig. 1), drawn from a specimen trees were felled in an effort to capture
reportedly belonging to a Mr Bullock. It Feathertail Gliders, but none was found.
was stated that this species lives ‘in the Only some ‘empty nests' were discovered.
trees and forests of Botany Bay and its However, at this site a week later, a large
neighbourhood' (Perry 1811). rotten tree came down, three Featherlails
Dr Edmund Robson (1814 to 1848) took were seen, one of which was captured
field notes in the forests between (Fleay 1933). Another was seen while
Melbourne and Arthurs Seat, and in 1837 spotlighting at a locality ‘some miles dis-
he noted that ‘The Petaurus pigmaeus [=4. tant' and also after felling some nearby
pygmaeus lives upon the gum ofthe two trees the next day. Flere, one was captured
kinds of mimosa, mim. decurrens and (a female with two pouch young) and was
viridis’ (Kenyon 1930). The first plant is possibly the same animal that was spotlit
synonymous with the Green Wattle the previous night. Unfortunately, the ani-
(Acacia decurrens), the second plant mals captured by Fleay at Bendoc did not
species is unknown. Hobson also noted survive longin captivity.
that ‘The movements ofthis little creature Feathertail Gliders seem ‘to inhabita vari-
are so rapid that they give the impression ety of forest country, though it is most at
ofa mere spectre. By means ofthe skin home in the thick timber typified by
stretched betwixt the hind and fore legs, Gippsland' (Fleay 1932). Also referred to
theyareenabled to reach the lowerbranch- were twojuvenile male animals sent to
es oftrees some 18 or20 feet distant' (see Fleay from the 'red gum country near
Kenyon 1930). Mathoura', NSW. Only one ofthese sur-
In 1926. David Orchard ofKinglake East vived, and was named ‘Erastus’ and lived
reported that his domestic cat brought for ‘nearlythree years', despite some lucky
home alivea ‘pigmy flyingsquirrel orpha- escapesfromthejawsofFleay’sdogandthe
langer', thatdied soonafterwards (Orchard taloned-feet ofa captive Boobook Owl. A
1926). He stated that they can be ‘found in female adult Feathertail Glider (with three
central Victoria along mountain creeks' young) captured near Warburton was also
but are ‘veryrare'. Ilealsostatedthat: senttoFleayandallwerereportedtobe:
Tree fellers for saw mills are the people perfectlyhealthy,withtheexceptionofone
who mostly find them in bringing down of the immature females, which had a
somegianttreehavinga dryhollow some- woundon thehead,duetothebiteofadog
whereon its side. Domestic cats alsobring which discovered the [Feathertail Glider]
them to the country home occasionally; when the home tree fell. However, the
justas they bring in the ordinary mouse in mother refused to settle down. She
the cities. 1 have received several speci- declined food, and within a week had
mens in that way. When the cats have kit- passed away...The [Feathertail Glider]
tens to feedthey usually bringthese flying with the tooth-marked head became very
mice home alive for the kittens to play sickly two months after its
withbeforekillingandeatingthem. arrival...Finally, afteraweekofcontinued
David Fleay (1932) provided an article torpidity, without touching a morsel of
and photographs pertaining to the ‘Pigmy food,itdied.
Flying Possum*. A number ofdistribution Other records provided by Fleay (1932)
records were detailed as well as some includedthe finding ofbreedinganimals in
observations on the captive diet, behaviour the ‘Ballarat district' and a family of‘sev-
and vocalisations ofthis species. A friend eral immature specimens discovered at a
of Fleay's ‘had seen large numbers’ of spot near Arthur’s Creek’, in 1931. Fleay
Feathertail Gliders in an area ofscrub in (1933) noted the 'Pigmy Phalanger
the Bendoc district (Fleay 1932). (Acrobates pygmaeus as resident in the
According to his (unnamed) friend ‘there Otway region and described its vocalisa-
were hundreds' within a single area of tions as a slow hissing cry. Fleay (1935)
bush, which led Fleay and a fellow-enthu- reported that the 'Pigmy Flying Phalanger’
siast to search the locality sometime after- isrepresented in the native faunasection of
wards. Clearing ofthe site was reportedly the MelbourneZoological Gardens.
158 The Victorian Naturalist
Contributions
Fig. 1. FeathertailGliderfrom Perry’sArcana(1811)
Miss CC Currie reported that the ‘Pigmy captive Feathertail Gliders (latertobecome
Flying Mouse’ has been found at Lardner DTC 35 409, 33 398, and 34 399) were
(Anon 1933); and JM Booking from the published by Dixon and Huxley (1989).
Blue Mountains, NSW, reported that her These contain a wealth ofbehavioural and
neighbour’s cat brought in a ‘Pigmy feeding observations on captive specimens
Feather-tail, which unfortunately, did not recorded between 12 May and 30
livelongincaptivity’ (Booking 1939). September 1945.
Six specimens ofthe Feathertail Glider At a meeting ofthe Club, on 8 April 1946
from the 1930s and 40s are in the Donald a ‘Pigmy Possum-Glider’ was exhibited by
Thomson Collection (DTC) in Museum Mrs EE Hill (Anon 1946). Itwas notedthat
Victoria (Dixon and Huxley 1989). They this species is found in ‘timbered country’
include a male collected at Femtree Gully in eastern Australia and was ‘becoming
on 25 July 1930 (DTC 14 204; skin). rarerthroughtheravagesofcats’.
Thomson noted that this species is ‘appar- In a note on the Feathertail Glider, Child
ently rare or little known in [this] district, (1948)wrote:
inquiries failed to bring any others and it "When walking down a bush track at
was the first the finder, a local resident, Kalorama one night in August [1948], I
had ever seen there. Head 25 mm, Tongue heard a rustle in the scrub and shone my
23 mm, Wt. 13.0 g\ A spirit specimen torch light among the bushes. There was a
(DTC 36 413: male) collected by F. little Pygmy Phalanger or “feathertail”
Collins is recorded for 20 August 1943 gliding from branch to branch (on a
from Romsey, Monument Creek, via Pultcnaeabush) [Baconand Eggsplant]. In
Woodend. Three live specimens (one male ordertoexamine its feather-liketail, I was
and two females) from Erica, Gippsland able to approach within a few feet ofthe
were sent to Thomson by ‘Dyer, a Forest tinycreature. 1 thensteppedbackas itglid-
Officer’ after a forest fire. The male (DTC ed from the bush to a gum tree about a
35 409; spirit) was captured on 9 May yard away and so disappeared. After
1945, died 24 May 1946. One female watching that beautiful little sprite for the
(DTC 33 398: spirit) died soon after firsttime, 1 felt happy to have seen one of
arrival; the second female (DTC 34 399) Nature’smostcharmingpictures'.
thrived for some months and then died. A Another record from the 1940s is that of
sixth specimen in the Thomson Collection a Feathertail Glider from the north of
at Museum Victoria (DTC 37 416; spirit; Paddy’s Ranges State Park (R. Bishop
femalewith 4young),alsofrom Erica, was pers. comm, citedbyTrainor 1992).
collected on 16 September 1947 by ‘Mr Norman Wakefield recorded Feathertail
Ryan’. Thomson’s detailed notes on three Gliders as sub-fossils from a number of
Vol. 123 (3) 2006 159
8
Contributions
cave deposits in far eastern Victoria small colonies and their ‘"nests” ofshred-
including Pyramids Cave, Mabel Cave, M- ded bark and gum leavesarebuilt in knot-
27 and M-28 (Wakefield 1960a; 1960b; holesorsmall hollowsuptosixtyfeet[=1
1967a). These fossils were attributed to m] above the ground. There is only one
Quolls Dasyurus spp. and Owls which mainland species ofAerobates and this is
depositedremainsofFeathertail Glidersand widely distributed through the eucalypt
otherspeciesas preyremains in thesecaves. forests of Eastern Australia, and although
Sub-fossil Feathertail Gliders have also apparently quite common, the animal is
been reported from localities in western rarely observed because of its smallness
Victoria i.e. "Natural Bridge', south-west of andnocturnalhabit.
Mount Eccles(Wakefield 1964), Fern Cave, Another record ofa Feathertail Glider
north-west of Portland (Wakefield 1963a), fromthe 1960s isthatofa femalecollected
Victoria Range deposit in the Grampians from a felled tree on 2 June 1965 at
(Wakefield 1963b) and McEachenfs Cave, Trawalla Forest Reserve by the Fauna
north ofNelson (Wakefield 1967b). The Survey Group (FSG) (Anon 1965). The
antiquity ofthe fossil deposits is Holocene specimen was reported to have been
to Late-Pleistocene (also sec Harris and lodged with Fisheries and Wildlife
Goldingay2005). Department by Mr Hodge, Forest Officer
Wakefield (1960a) stated that the at Beaufort. At Tanjil Bren on 15 January
Feathertail Glider favours open forest and 1966, a Feathertail Glider was seen on the
W
was plentiful in East Gippsland. In early ground by Mr King (Anon 1966). There
December 1960, a Feathertail Glider was is also an FSG record for around this time
seen while spotlighting near MountTara at for Powelltown/Labertouche State Forest
Buchan, and another was reportedly seen (Anon 1967).
in a gully along the Gellibrand River In March 1967, a Feathertail Glider was
(Anon 1961a, b). Wakefield (1962) stated collected at Fyans Creek (14 km north of
that one of the special projects in hand at Pomonal) and a photograph shown to John
the National Museum of Victoria, under Seebeck (Seebeck 1976). Another speci-
Mr J McNally, was ‘the maintenance ofa men found in a house at the junction of
study colony ofFeathertailGliders’. Redmans Road and the Pomonal South
The frontcover forMarch 1962 (Volume Roadwas also reported to Seebeck in 1968
78, Number 1 1) had a photograph, cour- (Seebeck 1976).
tesy ofthe Victorian Fisheriesand Wildlife In May 1967, three ‘Feather-tail Gliders’
Department, oftwo Feathertail Glidersdis- were seen during a trip to Stockman's
played on the branches and inflorescence Reward, north-east of Marysville, ‘all in
ofa Heath Banksia Banksictericifolia(Fig. one tree in the middle ofthe valley’ (Fryer
2). An accompanying caption explained and Temby 1969). Another was seen in
that ‘Feathertailsarequiteplentiful in most June 1968 ‘on a hill beside the Big River
of the forested parts of Victoria but, Valley Road’ in a Narrow-leaved
because they hide away and sleep all day,
they are rarely observed' (Anon 1962).
The inside front covers of The Victorian
Naturalist for May 1965 (Volume 82,
Number 1) and April 1970 (Volume 87,
Number 4) also featured photographs ofa
WH
‘Pygmy Glider’ by King. Thecaption,
written by the Assistant Editor RHJ
McQueen (1965),stated:
This animal is the smallest glidingpossum
andis immediatelydistinguishedby itsdis-
tinct gliding membranes and feather-like
tail. The gliding habit really consists ofa
series ofagile leaps which are prolonged Fig. 2. A pair ofFeathertail gliders Aerobates
by a parachute effect ofthe gliding mem- pygmaeusaspicturedon thecoveroftheMarch
branes. Feathertails are usually found in 1962 issueofThe VictorianNaturalist.
160 The Victorian Naturalist
Contributions
Peppermint Eucalyptus radiata. Itwas stat- Brunner et al. (1977) recorded the ‘Pigmy
ed that compared with other possums and Glider’ as present in one of359 predator
gliders,the Feathertail Gliderwasmoredif- (mainly fox) scats collected from an area
ficult to find. ‘Because [they] are so around Sumner Spur, near Powelltown.
small...considerable patience and intense Gilmore (1977) reportedthat ‘Mr R Austin
listeningwerenecessaryto locatethem1. of the Fisheries and Wildlife Division,
In October 1967, Clyde O'Donnell and Yarram, has a record of six animals
fellow naturalist Raymond Carlson, spotlit obtained by FA Palmer from a dead
‘many’ Feathertail Gliders on a single old stringybark tree that was felled on 30 July
eucalypt in the Porepunkah district 1963, 6 km west of Giffard West’.
(O’Donnell 1970). The gliders were Ambrose (1979) records Feathertail Glider
observed leapingtoanothertree,a distance as an uncommon resident in the Wallaby
of‘about fifteen feet’ [= 4.5 m]. When the Creek Catchment, and as an obligate tree
location was visited a year later no living hollow user. Callanan and Menkhorst
Feathertail Gliders were found, but ‘six- (1979) stated that the Feathertail Glider
teen lifeless bodies were discovered in was not found during a mammal survey of
theirancestral chamber’. the Werribee Gorge area, but thought that
Seebeck et al. (1968) reported that in it was ‘possibly present'. It was also noted
June 1966 and June 1967, the Mammal that Feathertail Glider ‘occurs in the
SurveyGroup examined a forestareasouth Brisbane Ranges (F. Lobb, National Parks
ofDarlimurla: Service pers. comm.) and [as already men-
Three specimens only were seen, but this tioned] Lerderderg Valley (Deerson et al.
species was probably much more common 1975) andmaywell occur in the [Werribee
than results indicate. Sightingsaregeneral- Gorge] area’. Dixon (1979) listed the
ly fortuitous due to the very small size of Feathertail Glider as present in the Alpine
theanimals.Two individualswere seen on AreaofVictoriaandNew South Wales.
the first night ofthe survey, one on the In October 1980. thepossible presence of
trunkofanold Messmate(Eucalyptusobli- the Feathertail Glider at the Mount Napier
qua), the other in the branches ofa young State Park was indicated ‘when a large
Narrow-leaved Peppermint (Eucalyptus quantity ofdried gum leaves were found
radiata). Both were approximately 20 feet coiled in 2 nest boxes’ (Bird 1997). Boyce
[= 6 m] from the ground when first sight- et al. (1981) stated that the Mammal
ed. Thethird specimen wascaptured when Survey Group had recorded Feathertail
it ran along the top suspending rope ofa GliderintheCobaw State Forest.
mist net. Specimen: Skin andskull: P. 630 Bennett(1982)citedEmison etal. (1975)
[male],25.vi.1966. in reporting that Feathertail Gliders have
On 25 May 1972, the Feathertail Glider been 'described asoccurringthroughout all
was selected as one of 10 native mammal nativewoodland and forestcommunities in
species to be studied by members of the [the Woolsthorpe area] of western
Field Survey Group/Mammal Survey Victoria’. Bennett (1982)alsoreportedthat
Group (Anon 1972). Mr A Heislers ‘Mr H. Quinley,an amateurnaturalistfrom
(Forests Commission ofVictoria) advised Mortlake wrote, in a letter (November
that in recent years Feathertail Gliders had 1910) to the Director of the National
been found during timber cutting in the Museum of Victoria regarding collection
Upper Lerderderg Valley, although none ofmarsupials’ that he ‘might by a flukeget
was found during the spotlighting trips in some ofthe pygmy squirrels’. From litera-
thatareaorganised by the Mammal Survey ture reports, museum records and informa-
Group in 1968-1970(Deersonetat. 1975). tion gathered from local residents, Bennett
Between September 1974 and November (1982) was also able to state that
1978, two Feathertail Gliders were record- Feathertail Gliders did occur in the
ed during tree felling operations just out- Woolsthorpe area in 1840, but he believed
side the Wallaby Creek catchment they became locally ‘extinct’ in the early
(Callanan 1981). Zirkler (1974) stated that 1900sasaresultof‘habitatdestruction’.
Pigmy Gliders are known to occur at Conoieand Baverstock(1983) stated that
Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, NSW. one Feathertail Glider had been recorded
Vol. 123 (3) 2006 161
Contributions
in tall open-forest in the Mount Cawley Bennett (1992) noted that Feathertail
areaofthe Otway Ranges in 1979(see also Gliders were found by Suckling (1984) to
Conole 1980). They also indicatedthat this be present in roadside vegetation in
species was widespread in the Angahook- Gippsland. Conole and Baverstock (1992)
Lome Forest Park,butitsstatus in thisarea reported the Feathertail Glider from the
was unknown. Nicholls and Meredith Bamgaine State Forest, about45 km north-
(1984) reported four sightingsfrom Broad- westofGeelong,and it was ‘only observed
leaved PeppermintE. dives open forestand in Swamp Gum [E. ovata open-forest,
]
Narrow-leaved Peppermint open forest where 5-6 individuals were seen in one
made in the Mt. Timbertop region between flowering Swamp Gum on 29 January
1971 and 1976. Loyn et at. (1986) record- 1989’. The apparent absence ofthe species
ed Feathertail Cilider in one out of 14 pel- fromthe Messmate Stringybark E. obfiqua
lets of the Sooty Owl Tyto tenebricoso open-forest, which was dominant at
examined from Thurra River, East Bamgaine, was suggested to be ‘more like-
Gippsland. ly due to the larger leaves and denser
Conole (1987) reported on traditional canopy obscuring the diminutive mammal.
Aboriginal names for a number of small Swamp Gums with their small leaves and
marsupials from reading ofthe Victorian open crown permit better visibility’.
ethnographic literature. To the Lindenmayer (1992) recorded Feathertail
Krauatungalung tribe (Lake Tyers area), Glider in the Mountain Ash forests in the
the Feathertail Glider is ‘Toan' asrecorded Central Highlands. Trainor(1992)reported
by Smyth (1878) or ‘Tuan1 as recorded by that Feathertail Gliders ‘readily use nest
Howitt (1880). To the Bunurong and boxes in the wetter forests of central
Woiworung tribes (Melbourne area) the Victoria(citingCalderelat. 1983; Orchard
Feathertail Glider is ‘Tu-an-tu-aiT (Smyth 1987), but have not been recorded in the
1878). Conole (1987) also believed that drier forests ofthe [Paddy's Ranges] study
‘Tirhatuan’ from the Woiworung area using this technique in a total of
(Danendongarea)wasprobablyFeathertail approximately 1800nest box inspections'.
Glider. Subsequently. Hercus (1988) and On 18 March 1995, a Feathertail Glider
Scarlett (1988) discussed whether early was observed on a clear full moon night
English translations for this and other while stagwatching in a Mountain Ash
species were correct. Flercus (1988) Forest in the Macedon-Woodend region of
thought that the name ‘tuan-tuan' was not the Western Highlands (Larwill 2004).
positively Feathertail Glider, and Scarlett During the same survey, but at a different
(1988) stated thatin Woiwurru, therecould site, a Feathertail Gliderwas also captured
have been at least three names for during Elliott trapping. In this survey, the
Feathertail Glider, including ‘Turnung’, species was not detected by use ofnest-
4Tarrn-nin\ and ‘Teed'thung’. Scarlett boxes, spotlighting or predator scat analy-
(1988) also presented a mythical story of sis. Kutt and Yugovic (1996) mentioned
the Kulin tribes of central Victoria, in that the Atlas of Victorian Wildlife
which the Feathertail Gliderwas featured. Database has ‘a historical record (pre-
Bennett (1988) did not record Feathertail 1900) of the Feathertail Glider’, for the
Glider whilst trapping, spotlighting and Grantville Gravel Reserve area, south-east
hairtubing within roadside vegetation in of Melbourne. Although it was not found
the Naringal area during the period 1979- during their mammal survey (conducted in
1982, and concluded that it was a rare March 1994), they predicted that with
species in this area. Dixon and Huxley more intensive survey, this species may be
(1989) commented that 'although this recorded here. Sometime between April
species is widely distributed in eastern 1985 and March 1995, a nocturnal obser-
Australia, few specimens are collected in vation ofthe Feathertail Glider was made
surveys or seen by the public’. They also in Tall Open Forest adjacent to the Parker
cited Russell (1980) and Fleming and Frey River Inlet, Otway National Park
(1984) in stating that only limited behav- (WestbrookeandPrevett2002).
ioural studies have been undertaken on the Menkhorst and Seebeck (1999) stated
Feathertail Glider. that the Feathertail Glider was ‘uncom-
162 The Victorian Naturalist
Contributions
mon’ at Wilsons Promontory National recorded taking the Feathertail Glider
Park, and the most recent record known to (McCulloch and Thompson 1987). The
them at that time was from 1986. During most recent mention of Feathertail Glider
25 h spotlighting in Rushworth State in The Victorian Naturalist was made by
Forest, Myersand Dashper(1999)recorded Gibson and Thompson (2005) in reference
only one Feathertail Glider(0.04 perhour). to the late Robert Taylor showing begin-
This animal was seen while foraging in a ners how to spotlight for the species in
large flowering Yellow Gum E. floweringbanksiaatGembrook.
leucoxylon. Myers and Dashper (1999)
Conclusion
also noted that the Atlas of Victorian
The Victorian Naturalistcontains about 61
Wildlife Database had one record for this
distribution records of the Feathertail
species from Rushworth State Forest in
Glider, excluding multiple records from
1990.
In 1999, the Feathertail Glider was the same locality and fossil records. These
recorded in the River RedGum E. camald- extend from before 1811 to about 2002,
ulensis vegetation in Barmah Forest by and document aspects ofthe life history,
LliakwerliyetoCooncocluer(mLoorvenewliadle.l2y00i2n),thbeutfo"ritesits bsepheacviieosu.r,Thaendlhaarbgietatnuremqbueirremoefntcsoomfmtohins
than this one record would suggest’. names synonymous with the Feathertail
Taggart and Shimmin (1999) did not pro- Glider and survey methods applicable to
vide any records of occurrence of the this species have also been revealed.
Feathertail Glider, butdid comment as part Despite the diminutive size, nocturnal
ofa review on marsupial sperm competi- habits, and generally secretive behaviour
tion that this species has ‘large testes rela- ofthe Feathertail Glider, knowledge ofits
tive to body mass’ which supported a high natural history has been greatly augmented
likelihood ofsperm competition occurring by naturalists’ observations published in
thisjournal.
in thisspecies.
Between April 2000 and March2002, the Acknowledgements
Fauna Survey Group (FSG) carried out a Wc thank the Australian Museum Library for
study ofthe vertebrates in and adjacent to permission to reproduce the figure originally
the Black Range, south ofthe township of published by George Perry, and Leone Lemmer
Stawell in western Victoria (Homan 2005). forherassistance.
One Feathertail Glider was captured References
opportunistically on the ground in an area AmbroseGJ(1979)MammalsandbirdsoftheWallaby
ofGranite Hills Woodland, which was a CreekCatchment, Victoria,withspecial referenceto
vegetation community dominated by speciesusingtree-holes. The VictorianNaturalist96,
Scent-bark Eucalyptus aromaphloia. The An8o-n10(.1885)ProceedingsoftheFieldNaturalists’Club
Feathertail Gliderwas notdetected in 1487 ofVictoria. TheVictorianNaturalist2,31.
Anon (1887)Theexhibits. The VictorianNaturalist4,
Elliott trap-nights, 687 pitfall trap-nights, 28.
60 h spotlighting, stagwatching at 12 stags Anon (1888)Theexhibits. The VictorianNaturalist5,
oHrotmharonug(h2u0s0e5)ofnFoivteedartitfhiactialFenaestth-ebrotxaeisl. An53o05n--5316(..1896a) Exhibits. The Victorian Naturalist 13.
Glider is ‘rare’ in this part of western Anon (1896b) Exhibition ofspecimens. The Victorian
Victoria, and that spotlighting in similar AnNoatnur(a1l9is0t5)13,Ex4h6i.bits. The Victorian Naturalist 21
woodland areas by the FSG have recorded 135-136. ,
only very small numbers (ie. Myers and Anon(1908)Exhibits. The VictorianNaturalist25,94-
Dashper 1999). An9o6.n (1911)Paperread. The Victorian Naturalist 27,
Pierson (2004) contributed some obser- 222-223.
vations ofantagonistic behaviour between Anon (1913) Exhibits. The Victorian Naturalist30,
Little Ravens CorvusmelloriandCommon An1o0n0.(1918)Exhibits.TheVictorianNaturalist35 43.
Ring-tailed Possums Pseudocheimspere- Anon(1930)Exhibits.The VictorianNaturalist47,,70.
grinus. In an accompanying noteand refer- Anon(1933)Naturenotes. The VictorianNaturalist50,
75-76.
ence supplied by the Editors of The Anon (1946) Nature notes, exhibits. The Victorian
FVoicrteosrtianRaNvaetunraCl.istt,aistmwaansicnuostehdatshabtetehne AnNoatnur(a1l9i6s1ta6)3F,a2u-4n.asurveygroup-January 12, 1961.
Vol. 123 (3) 2006 163
. . .
Contributions
TheVictorianNaturalist77,307-308. VictorianNaturalist92,28-43.
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eTdhelaVnidcstcoarpieasn:Nadtouersalriosatds1i0d9e.v1e0g5e-t1at10i.onhavearole? GoThIdeiVnigcatyoriRaLnNaantudraJlaisctks94o.n1S23M-12(82.004) (eds) The
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CaMldaenragTeG,meGnotulfdoirngarbBoGreaalndspMeacnideesrsinonthAeDWo(m19b8a3t) HotmheanBlPac(2k00R5a)ngAe,sunrveeayroSftatwheelvle.rtTebhreateVitcatuonraiaont
CaSEltnlavatineraonFnormBeeAsntt.a(l1M9oS8nc1ai)senhMcaeUmnRmievapelorrsstitoNyfo,Gtrh1ae6d.WuaatlelaSbcyhoCorleeokt HoNGwaiitputprlsalliaAsntdW,122N(,o1t98e48-s01)0o2n:PatpheerKsuronfaiAT.rWi.be.HoLwaiTtrlobe
CaclaltacnhamnenBtA.TahnedVMicctnokrhioarnsNtatPurWali(s1t97998). M10a9m-1ma19l.s ot KeLniybroanryAMS.S(.1993305)6,OBuorxf1ir0s5t3V4i(cat)o.rian naturalist: Dr
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CoNnaotlueralLiEst(16958,01)08A.recordoftheFeather-tailedGlid.er GtriaonntvainldlecGornasveerlvatReisoenrvsei,gnwiiftihcarnecfee.reTnhceetVoicvteogreitaan-
CoVfniocortloterhieaL.MEoThu(en1t9G8eC7ea)lwoTnlgheeyNataiurdreeaanltiiostftyt1ho7e.f7Ot-th8e.waTyuaRna.ng7esh,e EaNGraywtiumlrnlaoliSbsetl(i21d01e03u,4s)5l8eS-a6ud6rb.veeatyerfiorinLethaedbMeaacteedr'osnPRoesgisounm,
CoVnioclteorLiaEnaNnadtuBraalviesrtst1o0c4k,1G0A5-(10179.83)Mammalsolthe LiVnidcteonrmiaa.yeThreDVBict(o1r9i9a2n)NaStuormaelisitmp1a2c1t,s264o-n27a3r.boreal
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CDrioNooeVxaffsfiotsctuntttwhhhroeeeeaJrlliBlMlpiaaarsnriAmt(gngN1ceWiaair90tpn79uea(i.9rxl1)eat28lie18SinMx2t5scha-att)i2tmb2e1aOim,6nutFa1.itoo3lmlrr-siaes1nsla6teso,n.fdooVffittchaAhteueoislrArteiurcassta.putlreriTecaahliltem(ieeawVnnoiisntc)hAt.lsoaproTsilmhaisenet LLLiooNaSTnyalyohdtnnoheeuitrnsyRVamtRilHoacOir,1ytsyw1oet..lrTrsirL1Laa0DIni9uiBNl.nmNlSasE1(WtB8ad2u1sJ0eP-rt0r1an2aeGl8s)nii6sdsp..LGMplFTsIir06ld(i3eaa)grn,npsgdpd1,s4ob7fBWe-AfaE1uo4rsr9te(dr1aa9lnK8id6aA:)alaPt(ern2rea0ytf0ui2rroe)-f.
DibTxrhoienefVJrieMcvtioaerwni'danoHfNuapxtalusretaylwiLosrtk(9,159,w8i92t)1h6M-aa22mv1im.eawlstootfheVitcuttourrie.a VRfeilrvoteoerdbprRlaaetiednfGaouufnmathoEefucMBaualrryrmpaathyusFRociravemseatr,l.dauTllheaenrgseViisfcotoreonsrtitahonfe
DefTerhroesmoVntihcDet,ocroiDlaulnencNntaitoRun,raaSlnpiidsttanlo1lt0e6Ds,4oa-fn2dD5.oWniallldiaFm.s1Pho(m1s9o7n5.) MaNatanthueorvwaeslrilGsotMo1k1ea9dn,dw1oI1rr4ke-.d1a3Tl2eh.eTV(i1c9t1o2r)ia“nPeNrartyursalAirstca2n9a,7-
Mammals ofthe Upper Lerderderg Valley. The 16.
TheVictorian Naturalist
164
. . 1
Contributions
McrCauvlenlotcahkesEMFeaatnhder-TthaiolmepdsGolnideWr.MAu(s1t9r8a7l)ianFoBriesrtd TahgagbairttatsD.AAusatnrdalSihaintnWmiildnliGfeARe(s1e9a99r)chSp1e,r4m9-c7o5m.peti-
Watcher12,99. tion: a marsupial perspective. The Victorian
MMecAmnQcakrumhoemoberauntsletssRPopHfyJagWnmi(dal1es9Suo6esn5e.s)bTPePhrcyeokgmVomJinyc(tt1ooG9rrl9iyia9dnN)eaNrtAaitoourlnriaasFltleiaPostafthrckn8r.a2lta,Tii2hvl.ee, vTraSNantaiatndtueeerrraPlOaiRrRsektc.(11TR19h.69e.2W5)Va8i-rVc6etd4ro.trSieJabnraaNtnaedtufrHaaaulnniadstaosf1y0Pd9ae,d3dK8y-As45R.(a2n0g0e4s)
MyVeircstoSriDananNadtuDraaslhipster1S16G,2(61*92979.)Asurveyofthever- gDliisdterrisbuitnioVnicatnodriac.onIsner(vEadtsi)onRsLtatGuosldoifnpgoasysuamnsdaSnMd
tebrate fauna ofIhe Rushworth State Forest. The Jackson The Biology ofAustralian Possums and
NitcVhhieocltMlolsr.iaDTniaNmnabdteurMrtaeolripesdtrietg1hi1o6Cn,,1(n3o11r9-t81h44-)1eaN.satteirvneVmicatmormiaal.sThoef WaCGkhleiifpdipeeilrndsg.NNpAopr.t(o19n91)6-01a)10R,ec(eSnutrrmeaymmBaelatbtoyneasndfroSmontsh:e
O'VDiocntnoerlilanCNa(t1u9r7a0li)sGtl1i0d1er,s67o-f7t3h.ePorepunkahdistrict. B17u8c.handistrict - 1. The VictorianNaturalist77, 164-
TheVictorianNaturalist87,36-39. WakefieldNA(1960b)Recentmammalbonesfromthe
Orchard A (1987) A survey ofthe arboreal hollow- Buchandistrict -2. The VictorianNaturalist77,227-
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lished),BallaratUniversityCollege. Portland, Victoria. The VictorianNaturalist80, 39-
Orchard D (1926) Flying or pouched mouse. The 45.
VictorianNaturalist43,212. Wakefield NA (1963b) Mammal remains from the
PerryG(1811)Arcana,or, TheMuseumofnaturalhis- Grampians, Victoria. The Victorian Naturalist 80.
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PiJearsmoensSRtr(a2tf0o0r4d):LDoisnpduotne,d(utneprraigtionrayteidn).suburbia. The WaNkaetfuireallidstN8A0.(217946-72a7)8.Mammal bones in the Buchan
RusVsiecltloriRan(1N9a8t0u)raSlpiosttli1g2h1t,o14n3.Possums. (Universityof Wadkisetfriicte.ldTheNVAict(or1i9a6n7Nba)turPalrieslti8m4i.n2a1r1y-2r1e4p.ort on
QueenslandPress:StLucia) McFachcrifs Cave, S.W. Victoria. The Victorian
ScabrrloetthteNrsHi(n19W8o8i)wIuar-jreurrmayntdhToalrorgny-n.inTh-etwVoicstquoirriraenl WeNsattburraoloiksct8M4E,3a6n3-d38Pr3e.vctt PT(2002) Themammals
SeNeabteucrakliJsHt(110957,6)14M6-a1m49m.alsofthe Pomonalarea,the oVficPtoarrikaenrNaRtiuvrearlisItnle1t1,9,O6t0w-6a8y.National Park. The
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Seebeck.111, Frankenberg.1 and Hampton, JWF(1968) Warrumbungle Ranges,N.S.WAugust-September,
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Smyth RB (187,8) TheAborigines ofVictoria, Part 11
(Reprinted 1972.JohnCurreyO’Neil,Melbourne)
Strahan R (1995) The Mammals ofAustralia. (Reed
Books:Sydney) Received10November2005;accepted9March2006
Suckling GC (1984) Population ecology ofthesugar
glider Petaurus breviceps in a system offragmented
Seventy-fouryears ago
THEPIGMY FLYING POSSUM
BY DAVID FLEAY, B.Sc.
It is very doubtful whetheranyanimal,small or large, furred, feathered, or scaled, is more aptly
fittedwithgenericandspecificnamesthanAcrobatespygmaeus-the"pigmyacrobat"-oneofour
smallest marsupials and the midget ofthe Possum family. Yet this little silver-brown creature is
very difficult to domicile forobservation, and isofsuch delicate structure that one mustexercise
everycaretoavoidcausinginjurywTenhandlingit. ...
One generally thinks ofthe Pigmy Flying Possums as an animal entirely lacking in powers of
vocal accomplishment; and though it is mainly a silent species, soft little soundsare occasionally
uttered, usually in daylight, when the "pigmies" arerolled uptogetherin thenest. It is difficult to
describe these low sobbing calls, but probably as good a description as any is to compare them
withthequaveringwhistlingnotesofDottrels[sic] flyingoverinthenightskies. ..
From The VictorianNaturalist,XLIX,November7, 1932
Vol. 123 (3) 2006 165