Cape York spotted cuscus
| Cape York spotted cuscus | ||||||||||||
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Cape York Spotted Cuscus ( Spilocuscus nudicaudatus ) |
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| Spilocuscus nudicaudatus | ||||||||||||
| ( Gould , 1850) |
The Cape York spotted cuscus ( Spilocuscus nudicaudatus ) is a sluggish marsupial from the family of climbing bees (Phalangeridae), which occurs only on the northeast Australian Cape York Peninsula north of the Stewart River . The species was originally considered a subspecies of the actual spotted cuscus ( Spilocuscus maculatus ). In the marsupial volume of the Handbook of the Mammals of the World , a standard work of mammalogy , published in 2015 , it is listed as an independent species.
features
The Cape York spotted cusus is one of the smallest spotted cusus species and reaches a head body length of 41 to 58 cm, has a 37.5 to 49.5 cm long prehensile tail and it weighs 2.7 to 4.9 kg. On average, the tail is 11% shorter than the head and torso combined. Only the Manus spotted cuscus ( Spilocuscus kraemeri ) is smaller. Similar to koalas ( Phascolarctos cinereus ), Cape York spotted cusus have a silver-gray, woolly fur. The fur on the belly side is cream colored from chin to tail, sometimes also the top of the tail. The fur on the back is darker than the rest of the fur on the head and shoulders. The distal part of the tail, muzzle, hands and feet are yellowish. Males have cream-colored or whitish, irregular spots on their backs. The form of the actual spotted cuscus , which occurs on the southern Moluccas, has a similar color . Compared to other species of spotted cusus, the skull of the Cape York spotted cusus is smaller and the molars are narrower. The ears are short and only a few protrude from the fur.
habitat
The Cape York spotted cuscus occurs in rainforests from sea level to the peaks of the McIlwraith Range at altitudes of more than 800 meters. It is less common in mangroves , in populations of nipa palm ( Nypa fruticans ) or myrtle heaths ( Melaleuca ) or in open forests that are more than 500 meters from the nearest closed rainforest.
Way of life
The Cape York spotted cuscus is largely nocturnal but was also observed shortly after sunrise. He spends the day in forks of branches, dense foliage or on simple platforms he has built himself from gathered, leafy branches. It feeds on fruits and leaves and has been observed eating leaves of glochidion and fruits of Nauclea orientalis , planchonella and the fig species Ficus hispida . Animals kept in captivity preferred to eat young leaves rather than old ones and also ingested invertebrates. Young animals in their mother's pouch were observed mainly from July to September and December. Usually a female has a single cub. But females with up to three young animals in the pouch have also been seen. Well-known predators of the Cape York spotted cusus are the wedge-tailed eagle ( Aquila audax ) and the New Guinea amethyst python ( Simalia amethistina ).
supporting documents
- ↑ 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. 497.