Dorcopsulus

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Dorcopsulus
A preserved specimen of the Macleay bush kangaroo in the Natural History Museum of Genoa

A preserved specimen of the Macleay bush kangaroo in the Natural History Museum of Genoa

Systematics
Superordinate : Australidelphia
Order : Diprotodontia
Family : Kangaroos (Macropodidae)
Subfamily : Macropodinae
Tribe : Bush kangaroos (Dorcopsini)
Genre : Dorcopsulus
Scientific name
Dorcopsulus
Matschie , 1916

Dorcopsulus is a genus of kangaroo that occurs in the southeast and mountain regions in the central part of New Guinea .

features

Dorcopsulus species reach a head-trunk length of 31.5 to 46 cm, have a 22.5 to 40.2 cm long tail and reach a weight of 1.5 to 3.4 kg. Both species of the genus have a dark, gray-brown fur that is lighter on the belly. The fur is soft, dense and long. The last quarter of the tail is hairless and whitish. The females have four teats in the pouch.

Habitat and way of life

Dorcopsulus species live in mountain rainforests at altitudes of 1000 to 3100 meters. Little is known about their way of life, their activity patterns and their reproductive behavior. They supplement their diet consisting of leaves, fruits and other plant materials with mushrooms.

species

There are two types:

  • The Macleay bush kangaroo ( Dorcopsulus macleayi ) is common in southeast New Guinea.
  • The little bush kangaroo ( Dorcopsulus vanheurni ) lives in the mountainous regions in the central part of New Guinea.

Systematics

The genus Dorcopsulus was introduced in 1916 by the German zoologist Paul Matschie . It is closely related to the genus Dorcopsis and forms a genus group with this. 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 107 and 108 Google Books
  2. ↑ a b 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 694 a. 695.
  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