Dorcopsis

Dorcopsis
A hagen bush kangaroo ( Dorcopsis hageni ) in the Pairi Daiza zoo in Brugelette
Systematics
Superordinate : Australidelphia Order : Diprotodontia Family : Kangaroos (Macropodidae) Subfamily : Macropodinae Tribe : Bush kangaroos (Dorcopsini) Genre : Dorcopsis
Scientific name
Dorcopsis
Schlegel & Müller , 1845

Dorcopsis is a genus of kangaroo that occurs in New Guinea and on the neighboring islands of Misool , Salawati , Yapen and Goodenough .

features

Dorcopsis species reach a head-trunk length of 34 to 97 cm, have a 27 to 55 cm long tail and reach a weight of 3.6 to 11.6 kg. The fur of the white-stripe bush kangaroo is short and thin, that of the other species is long and thick. On the back side the animals are blackish, dark brown, light brown or dark gray in color, the belly side is lighter in all species. The nose is relatively large, broad and hairless, the ears are small and round. The tip of the tail is hairless. The hair stands forward on the nape of the neck. The females have four teats in the pouch.

Habitat and way of life

With the exception of the Goodenough bush kangaroo, which occurs in mountain rainforests, all Dorcopsis species live in lowland rainforests up to a maximum height of 400 meters. They are largely nocturnal and most active in dense bushes during the day. They feed on grass, roots, leaves and fruits. When mating, the males bite the females' necks. The females usually only have one young per litter.

species

There are four types:

• The Goodenough or Black Bush Kangaroo ( Dorcopsis atrata ) only lives on Goodenough Island south of New Guinea. Because of its small distribution area, it is considered critically endangered.
• The white-stripe bush kangaroo ( Dorcopsis hageni ) is native to northern New Guinea.
• The gray bush kangaroo ( Dorcopsis luctuosa ) is native to southeastern New Guinea.
• The brown bush kangaroo ( Dorcopsis muelleri ) lives in western New Guinea and offshore islands.

Systematics

The genus Dorcopsis was introduced in 1845 by the German naturalists Salomon Müller and Hermann Schlegel . It is closely related to the genus Dorcopsulus and forms a generic group with this, sometimes the second is also classified in the former. The differences are that the two species of the genus Dorcopsulus are smaller and more densely hairy and a larger part of the tail is hairless. According to phylogenetic data (comparison of homologous DNA sequences) the two genera are sister groups ; this result has been confirmed in analyzes of both nuclear and mitochondrial sequences.

supporting documents

1. ^ ^{A b c} Ronald M. Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World. Volume 1, 6th edition, The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore / London 1999, ISBN 0-8018-5789-9 , page 106 and 107 Google Books
2. ↑ Diego Astua: Family Didelphidae (possums). in Don E. Wilson , Russell A. Mittermeier : Handbook of the Mammals of the World - Volume 5. Monotremes and Marsupials. Lynx Editions, 2015, ISBN 978-84-96553-99-6 . Page 693 a. 694.
3. ↑ Robert W. Meredith, Michael Westerman, Mark S. Springer: A phylogeny and timescale for the living genera of kangaroos and kin (Macropodiformes: Marsupialia) based on nuclear DNA sequences. Australian Journal of Zoology, 56, pp. 395-410, 2008 doi : 10.1071 / ZO08044