Cercartetus nanus
Silhouette: T. Michael Keesey · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~30% in a week ~50%
The eastern pygmy possum (Cercartetus nanus) is a diprotodont marsupial of south-eastern Australia. Occurring from southern Queensland to eastern South Australia and also Tasmania, it is found in a range of habitats, including rainforest, sclerophyll forest, woodland and heath.
The eastern pygmy possum is the type species of the genus Cercartetus (family Burramyidae), and was first described as Phalangista nana with the specific name meaning 'dwarf' in Latin. Currently, the authority for the specific name is widely accepted as Desmarest 1818, but in a review recently published, it was pointed out that an earlier version of Desmarest's account was published in 1817.
Vernacular names that have been used for this species include dwarf phalanger, minute phalanger, dwarf cuscus, pigmy phalanger, Bell's Dromicia, opossum mouse, dusky Dromicia, pygmy opossum, thick-tailed Dromicia... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamington National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 2 | Springbrook National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 3 | Blue Mountains National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 4 | Great Otway National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report an Eastern Pygmy Possum sighting in Lamington National Park on a given day, based on 8 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 22nd most-seen of the 26 mammals we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 30%, and over a week to about 50%, if each day is a fresh chance.
December
In that month about 20% of wildlife watchers report an Eastern Pygmy Possum in Lamington National Park on a given day, against under 5% in February–March, May–August and November, the lowest months. That is one of Lamington National Park's wettest months, with about 140 mm of rain against 40 mm in August.
Between 7 and 10 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Eastern Pygmy Possum sightings with a recorded time, and about 7 in 10 of them come between 6 pm and 6 am: it is mostly seen at night.
Yes
Of the 4 parks where we can rate Eastern Pygmy Possum sightings, Lamington National Park has the highest daily chance: about 10%. Next come Springbrook National Park (Australia, about 10%) and Blue Mountains National Park (Australia, about 10%).
Same order: Diprotodontia
The closest relatives of the Eastern Pygmy Possum that you can see in Lamington National Park (order Diprotodontia, Kangaroos, Possums, Wombats, and Allies) are Red-necked Pademelon (about 60%), Whiptail Wallaby (about 50%) and Short-eared Possum (about 50%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Eastern Pygmy Possum is recorded against all the mammals logged in Lamington National Park (8 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
