[Taxacom] ID of this pet "rodent" species

[Kenneth Kinman]

Eric and Yen,
       I would agree with Eric that this is probably a member of Family
Burramyidae.  However, it could also be a pygmy gliding possum
(Acrobates pygmaeus).  I would suggest weighing it.  If it weighs 10-15
grams, it is almost certainly Acrobates pygmaeus.  If it is at least
double that weight, it is probably the mountain pygmy possum (Burramys
parvus).  Also the tail length in Acrobates is much shorter (60-80 mm.),
while Burramys has a much longer tail length (usually twice that long).
Either or both of those measurements should distinguish between the two.
       -------Cheers,
                 Ken Kinman

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Eric Zurcher wrote:
Yen, 
I'm no mammalogist, but are you certain it's a rodent? That photo looks
dismayingly like the Australian mountain pygmy possum (for an image, see
http://museumvictoria.com.au/bioinformatics/mammals/images/parvlive.htm).
I say "dismayingly" because the mountain pygmy possum is highly
endangered (restricted to a few square kilometers of alpine habitat).