| Scaly-tailed Possum[1] | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Infraclass: | Marsupialia |
| Order: | Diprotodontia |
| Family: | Phalangeridae |
| Genus: | Wyulda Alexander, 1918 |
| Species: | W. squamicaudata |
| Binomial name | |
| Wyulda squamicaudata Alexander, 1919 |
|
| Scaly-tailed Possum range | |
The Scaly-tailed Possum or the Ilangnalya (Wyulda squamicaudata) is found in northwestern Australia. It is restricted to the Kimberley region in Western Australia.[3] As it is monotypic in its genus, it is sometimes known simply by its genus — the Wyulda.
The Scaly-tailed Possum is a member of the family Phalangeridae, which means that it is related to cuscuses and brushtail possums. It is a solitary nocturnal forager that feeds on leaves, flowers and fruit.[3]
As its name implies, its distinguishing feature is a hairless, scaly tail.
The possum has a limited range and is found in high rainfall coastal regions of the north Kimberley between Yampi Sound and Kalumburu, populations also inhabit Bigge Island and Boongaree Island. The preferred habitat of this animal is sandstone based woodlands where it can shelter in rock piles and fissures and feed in the trees.[4].