Same color cuscus
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Same color cuscus ( Phalanger gymnotis ) |
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| Phalanger gymnotis | ||||||||||||
| ( Peters & Doria , 1875) |
The same color cuscus ( Phalanger gymnotis ) is a marsupial from the climbing family (Phalangeridae), which occurs in the west, north and east, in the central highlands of New Guinea, as well as on Yapen , Salawati , Misool and the Aru Islands .
features
The same color cuscus is a relatively large, strongly built cuscus and reaches a head body length of 31 to 54 cm, has a 29 to 39.5 cm long prehensile tail and weighs 1.5 to 5 kg. The fur is gray to gray-brown with a dark stripe in the middle of the back and light-colored ear bases. The ears are relatively small. The tail is hairless for more than half its length and often ends in a white tip. The head is medium to large and wide, the muzzle is narrow. The third upper premolar is very large and higher than the crowns of the upper molars . The tooth is larger in proportion to the body size than in all other climbing bags.
Same color cuscus from mountain forests, which are at an altitude of more than 1000 to 1500 above sea level, are significantly smaller than their counterparts from the lowlands. They have longer hair and a softer coat.
Habitat and way of life
The same color cuscus occurs in different forest types from sea level to an altitude of 2700 meters. The species is most common at altitudes of 500 to 1500 meters. The animals move relatively slowly, are nocturnal and spend the day in caves under or on the ground, e.g. B. under tree roots, between rocks, in dense vegetation and in holes that were created by humans. In the early morning they often sunbathe while sitting in front of their hiding place. The same color cuscus feeds mainly on leaves and fruits. The consumption of figs, bananas and sweet potatoes, as well as the fruits of Elaeocarpus , Garcinia , Pipturus , of screw trees , as well as the consumption of ferns, rechtites , water fennel ( Oenanthe ) and Rungia was proven . To a small extent, they also eat small animals, including rodents and small lizards. It has often been observed that the females transport food to the nest in bags. Same color cuscs produce different sounds that sound like hissing or coughing. They also trample with their hind feet to make noises. Both sexes mark their habitat with urine and with a white, creamy secretion that is produced by glands in the cloaca . They are relatively intolerant and fight with one another with their front paws, only standing on their hind legs. Many specimens have facial scars, damaged ears, or lack of toes. The females get a single young animal. Most are born between April and October. The young animal leaves the maternal pouch for the first time after about 108 days, spends most of the time outside the pouch at around 138 days of age, it is then transported by the mother on her back, and remains permanently outside the pouch when it is 160 to Is 200 days old. Same color cuscus kept in human care lived a maximum of eleven years.
Danger
The IUCN estimates the population of the same color cuscus as safe ( Least Concern ). The animals have a large distribution area, are relatively common and so adaptable that they can also live in biotopes disturbed by humans.
supporting documents
- ↑ a b c d e 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. 489.