Gymnobelideus Leadbeateri Research Articles

Diet of Leadbeaters Possum, Gymnobelideus Leadbeateri (Marsupialia).

Diet of Leadbeater's possum (Gymnobelideus leadbeateri) in Victoria, Australia, in a forest dominated by Eucalyptus regnans was found by examination of faeces and limited direct observation. It included arthropods, particularly tree crickets, beetles, moths, and spiders, plant exudates such as Acacia gum, nectar and manna, and the insect exudate psyllid honeydew. Arthropods were calculated to provide less than 20% of daily energy requirements. The overall pattern of ingestion was similar to that previously reported for the related sugar glider, but seasonal shortage of exudates was more pronounced during winter.

Energy Requirements and Water Turnover in Free-Living Leadbeater's Possums, Gymnobelideus Leadbeateri (Marsupialia: Petauridae).

The field metabolic rate (FMC) and water turnover rate of free-living Leadbeater's possums (Gymnobelideus leadbeateri) was estimated by means of doubly labelled water. This information was combined with field estimations of daily activity, and laboratory estimations of basal metabolism, to formulate daily energy budget. Possums emerged from their nest at dusk, but returned to them periodically throughout the night. An estimated 17.7 h of the day was spent in the nest at a total energy cost of 29 kJ (13% of FMR). Of the total 197 kJ expended during the 6.3-h active period, 10 kJ (4% of FMR) was attributable to maintenance costs, 23 kJ (10% of FMR) to thermoregulation, and 165 kJ (73% of FMR) to activity and specific dynamic action. The apparently high cost of activity is consistent with the dispersed nature of the possums' food supply and their well developed, territorial social system. Water turnover rates varied with season, sex and rainfall. Water shortage at certain periods of year may restrict exploitation of some food items (dehydrated plant exudates).

THE CRASSIPES SPECIES-GROUP, GENUS TRICHOSUROLAELAPS WOMERSLEY (ACARI: DERMANYSSIDAE)

Three mite parasites of Australian possums (Marsupialia) are described: Trichosurolaelaps dixoa sp. n. from Trichosurus caninus (Phalangeridae); T. marra sp. n. from Petaurus norfolcensis, P. breviceps, and Gymnobelideus leadbeateri (Petauridae); and T. fallax sp. n. from Schoinobates volans (Petauridae). Supplementary notes are offered on the three known species (T. crassipes Womersley, T. harrisoni Domrow, and T. striata Domrow). The considerable reduction of the setation on the disc of the dorsal shield of all species is analysed, and incorporated with other morphological characters into a natural key. Host-specificity parallels morphology, and indicates that the parasites of petaurids are distinct from those of phalangerids, and that the latter are nearer to the one parasite of a non-possum: Hypsiprymnodon (Macropodidae).

TWO NEW SPECIES OF HAEMOLAELAPS BERLESE (ACARI: DERMANYSSIDAE) FROM LEADBEATER'S POSSUM

AbstractTwo Australian mite parasites are described: Haemolaelaps anticlea sp. n. and H. cleptusa sp. n., both from Gymnobelideus leadbeateri McCoy (Marsupialia: Petauridae).

A NEW GENUS AND SPECIES OF FLEA FROM VICTORIA (SIPHONATPERA: PYGOOPSYLLIDAE)

AbstractA new genus and species of flea, Wurunjerria warnekei gen. et sp. n., is described from Leadbeater's Possum, Gymnobelideus leadbeateri McCoy, in Victoria.