New Guinea marten
| New Guinea marten | ||||||||||||
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Dasyurus albopunctatus | ||||||||||||
| Schlegel , 1880 |
The New Guinea marten ( Dasyurus albopunctatus ) is a species of marten that occurs in the north and central mountains of New Guinea and on the Yapen . It is questionable whether it can also be found on the Vogelkop Peninsula.
features
In New Guinea, the New Guinea marten can only be confused with the bronze quoll ( Dasyurus spartacus ), which occurs in southern New Guinea. It is the second largest carnivorous marsupial in New Guinea, but significantly smaller than this and the Australian marten. Male animals have a head trunk length of 22.8 to 35 cm, a tail length of 21 to 29 cm and a body weight of 0.6 to 0.71 kg, while female animals have a head trunk length of 24 to 27.5 cm, a tail length of 22 to 28 cm and a body weight of just over 0.5 kg. The fur is red-brown with white spots, the tail is not very hairy. The first toe is longer than the bronze swell.
Habitat and way of life
The New Guinea marten occurs in rainforests and cloud forests up to an altitude of 3600 meters. In general, it is less common in areas below 1000 meters. The species is still little explored. It is probably partly nocturnal. Locals describe the New Guinea marten as a fearless hunter who also overpowers prey larger than the New Guinea marten itself. The animals also invade human dwellings to hunt rats. Reproduction takes place all year round. A litter consists of 4 to 6 pups that stay in the female's pouch for about 2 months.
Danger
The New Guinea marten is on the IUCN's early warning list ( near threatened ) and has become rare in some areas. Reasons for this are the increasing settlement by humans, the expansion of agriculture, the deforestation of the forests for oil palm plantations, as well as stalking by feral dogs and domestic cats. The New Guinea marten may also be endangered by the spread of the cane toad ( Rhinella marina ).
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c d Andrew Baker: Family Dasyuridae (Carnivorous Marsupials). Page 301 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
- ↑ Dasyurus albopunctatus in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2011. Posted by: Woolley, P. et al, 2008. Retrieved on September 4, 2012..
