Copper ring bagler
| Copper ring bag | ||||||||||||
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Pseudochirops cupreus | ||||||||||||
| ( Thomas , 1897) |
The copper ring- pouch ( Pseudochirops cupreus ) is a marsupial from the family of the ring- pouch , which occurs in the central mountains of New Guinea.
features
Copper ring pouches have a head-body length of 36 to 41 cm, a tail length of 27 to 31 cm and a weight of 1.3 to 2.21 kg. They can be distinguished from all other ring-baggers due to their size and the almost hairless last third of their tail.
Occurrence, habitat and way of life
In the central mountains of New Guinea, the copper ringbutler occurs exclusively in montane primary forests at altitudes of 500 to 4000 meters, occasionally also in secondary forests or in overgrown gardens. The animals are rare below an altitude of 2000 meters, most of them live above 2500 meters. In the Indonesian part of New Guinea they live above 3700 meters in biotopes that are only overgrown with shrubs, herbs and grasses. Copper Ringbeutler are mainly nocturnal, but have also been observed during the day. They spend the day in tree hollows or in earthworks that were created by the De Vis giant tree rat ( Mallomys aroaensis ) or the same color cuscus ( Phalanger gymnotis ). In most cases they sleep alone, but couples have also been observed sleeping together. Females typically leave their roosts around 7:00 p.m., males around half an hour later. Early in the morning, around 5:20 am, both sexes go to sleep again. The animals mainly feed on leaves. These make up 85 to 90% of the diet, the rest consists of fruits. The mountain cuscus ( Phalanger carmelitae ) is obviously a stronger food competitor of the copper ringbuckers and they leave a tree they have been feeding on when a mountain cuscus climbs on this tree. Only when this has disappeared do the copper ring bags return. Copper ring pouches only get a single young animal. There is obviously no special breeding season.
Danger
The copper ring bag is considered to be “safe” ( Least Concern ). The species is widespread and the population is relatively large. Although it is hunted by humans to obtain bushmeat , this does not seem to have had a major impact on the population of the animals so far. The copper ring bag is also found in several protected areas. The predators that hunt the copper ringbuck include the Boelen python ( Simalia boeleni ) and various species of birds of prey.
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c d Stephen Jackson: Family Pseudocheiridae (Ring-tailed Possums and Greater Gliders). 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 , pages 529-530.
- ↑ Pseudochirops cupreus in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species .