A newly-discovered population of a threatened pygmy possum species may be clinging to survival in a national park, sparking fears prescribed burning may threaten their habitat.
Scientists are hopeful the Little Pygmy Possum may be living in South Australia's Yorke Peninsula, saying proving the presence of the rare marsupial would be like "rediscovering the Tasmanian Tiger".
No previous evidence has existed of the pygmy possum species living in the peninsula's Dhilba Guuranda–Innes National Park.
However there is hope after a recent review of photographs taken during surveys conducted between 2004 and 2011 using pitfall traps - concealed buckets sunk in the ground which animals fall into.
Among hundreds of images of the closely related Western Pygmy Possum, two animals photographed in December 2006 stood out as different.
The Little Pygmy Possum has distinctive grey underside fur, unlike the white underparts of Western Pygmy Possums.
Sophie Petit from Adelaide University said the two stand-outs were labelled juveniles at the time because no one in the research team expected to discover a new mammal species for the Yorke Peninsula.
She hopes further targeted field surveys can prove Little Pygmy Possums still survive in the park but warns ongoing prescribed burning threatens their habitat.
"It's really exciting because we didn't think that these animals were on the Yorke Peninsula," Dr Petit told AAP on Monday.
"To me it's a bit like rediscovering the Tasmanian Tiger."
Other remnant populations of Little Pygmy Possums exist on the mainland, Tasmania and Kangaroo Island but it remains a threatened species.
Authorities should urgently reassess their prescribed burning program in the national park, Dr Petit says.
"The Little Pygmy Possum is very sensitive to vegetation disturbance. It's a bit worrisome that their habitat has not expanded."
Adopting a precautionary approach to land management until the species’ status is verified would be the best course of action, Dr Petit said.
“It’s possible that this population has become extinct in the last 20 years, considering its rarity.”
The species is one of Australia’s smallest mammals, weighing just a few grams and feeding on nectar, pollen and insects.
The University of Adelaide's School of Biological Sciences study has been published in Australian Zoologist.
