Cunningham-Kusu
| Cunningham-Kusu | ||||||||||||
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Trichosurus cunninghami | ||||||||||||
| Lindenmayer , Dubach & Viggers , 2002 |
The Cunningham kusu ( Trichosurus cunninghami ) is an Australian marsupial that is found in the mountains and coastal plains of southeastern Australia. The range begins south of Sydney in New South Wales and extends south to Mount Cole in Victoria . The species was only described as independent in 2002. The kusus in this area were previously assigned to the dog kusu ( Trichosurus caninus ). The differences between Cunningham-Kusu and Hundskusu are so small that the former should perhaps be viewed as a subspecies of Hundskusu.
features
Cunningham kusus reach a head body length of 49 to 54 cm, have a 34 to 37 cm long tail and reach a weight of 2.6 to 4.2 kg. The fur of the Cunningham kusu is dark gray in the cases, the bushy tail is black. Compared to the dog kusu, the Cunningham kusu has larger ears and hind feet and a shorter tail. In contrast to Fuchskusu , they do not show any pronounced sexual dimorphism .
Habitat and way of life
The Cunningham kusu is found in subtropical rainforests and subtropical and temperate evergreen forests. The animals are nocturnal and spend the day in tree hollows or in nest boxes made by humans. Cunningham kusus feed mainly on leaves, with those of the silver acacia ( Acacia dealbata ) being particularly important. In addition, mushrooms are also consumed, which are both searched on the ground and dug up. The territory used by an individual is usually 0.7 to 7 hectares. The Cunningham kusu can form pairs that are monogamous, then the males and females share a common territory. Other males have territories that partially overlap with the territories of two or three females and mate with these females. Various calls and scent markings serve to communicate with one another.
Females reach sexual maturity at the age of two, but usually do not have their first young animal until the age of three. The young are born in March, April or May, most in a period of only two to three weeks. Only one young animal is born per birth. The gestation period is 15 to 17 days. The young animal then spends about six months in its mother's pouch. After it has left this, the female carries it on her back for another two to three months. After it has become independent, the young animal remains in the mother's territory up to an age of two to three years. These can live to be 12 years old, females reach a maximum of 17 years.
Predators that chase the Cunningham kusu are mainly the giant owl ( Ninox strictua ), the red fox , the house cat and the dingo . The Cunningham-Kusu is considered safe.
supporting documents
- ↑ Lindenmayer, DB; J. Dubach; et al. (2002). Geographic dimorphism in the mountain brushtail possum T. caninus : the case for a new species. Australian Journal of Zoology. 50 (4): 369-393. doi: 10.1071 / ZO01047
- ↑ a b c d Kristofer Helgen & Stephen Jackson: Family Phalangeridae (Cuscuses, Brush-tailed Possums and Scaly-tailed Possum). 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 , p. 484
- ↑ Trichosurus cunninghami in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2015 Posted by: Menkhorst, P. Taggart, D., Ellis, M. & Martin, R., 2015. Accessed November 15, 2018th