A small possum found only in the Wet Tropics of North Queensland has recently been added to Australia’s threatened species list. The lemuroid ringtail possum lives in cool mountain rainforests across the ranges from the Atherton Tablelands through the mountains south toward Ingham.
Much of the research on these possums has been led by scientists at James Cook University, who have monitored rainforest ringtail possum populations across the Wet Tropics for decades. Their work shows the species has declined by around 60% in the past 15 years, largely due to rising temperatures and extreme heat events.
The possums live mostly in tall, moist upland rainforest above about 450 metres elevation, spending their lives high in the canopy where they feed on leaves, flowers and fruit. They are highly sensitive to heat, and individuals can die if exposed to temperatures above 30°C for several hours.
As the climate warms, the cool rainforest conditions these possums depend on are shrinking, effectively pushing populations higher up mountain ranges where suitable habitat becomes smaller and more fragmented.
Researchers say the lemuroid ringtail possum is one of the clearest signs of how climate change is already affecting wildlife in the Wet Tropics.