Feather-tailed pouches
| Feather-tailed pouches | ||||||||||||
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Feather-tailed pouch ( Distoechurus pennatus ) |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name of the genus | ||||||||||||
| Distoechurus | ||||||||||||
| Peters , 1874 | ||||||||||||
| Scientific name of the species | ||||||||||||
| Distoechurus pennatus | ||||||||||||
| Peters , 1874 |
The feather- tailed pouch ( Distoechurus pennatus ) is a species of marsupial mammal from the family of dwarf gliding pouches (Acrobatidae). Despite its relationship to sliding marsupials, it does not have any sliding membranes itself.
The soft, woolly fur of the feather-tailed pouch is colored gray, the white face with two black eye stripes is striking. The name-giving feature is the tail, which is covered with bristle-like hair on both sides. The eyes are large, the ears small and hairless. These animals reach a head body length of 10 to 13 centimeters, a tail length of 13 to 16 centimeters and a weight of 38 to 62 grams.
Feather-tailed pouches are widespread throughout New Guinea , their habitat is primarily rainforests up to 1900 meters above sea level. They are nocturnal tree dwellers, during the day they sleep in hollow trees or in dense foliage. They are considered active animals and skilled climbers who mostly lead solitary lives. Their diet consists of nectar, flowers, fruits, insects and other invertebrates.
Little is known about reproduction, females with a young in their pouch were found in January and between July and October. Animals in human care lived to be 20 months old.
The feather-tailed pouch is not classified as threatened.
Feather-tailed pouches are no longer kept in Europe. The only holders of European zoo history are Amsterdam and London.
literature
- Ronald M. Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World . Johns Hopkins University Press, 1999 ISBN 0-8018-5789-9
Web links
- Illustration
- Distoechurus pennatus inthe IUCN 2013 Red List of Threatened Species . Posted by: Leary, T., Seri, L., Wright, D., Hamilton, S., Helgen, K., Singadan, R., Menzies, J., Allison, A., James, R., Aplin, K., Dickman, C., Salas, L. & Flannery, T., 2008. Retrieved January 22, 2014.
