Manus spotted cuscus
| Manus spotted cuscus | ||||||||||||
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Spilocuscus kraemeri | ||||||||||||
| ( Black , 1910) |
The Manus spotted cuscus ( Spilocuscus kraemeri ) is a marsupial from the climbing family (Phalangeridae) that is endemic to the Admiralty Islands ( Manus , Rambutyo , Lou, etc.) north of New Guinea.
features
The Manus spotted cusus is the smallest species of spotted cusus and is the only one with a condylobasal length of less than 9 cm. It reaches a head body length of 31 to 57 cm, has a 25 to 59 cm long prehensile tail and it reaches a weight of 1.9 to 2.2 kg. Females are on average 14% heavier than males and the tail is usually 10% shorter than the head and torso combined.
In its coloration, the species is similar to the black spot spotted cuscus ( Spilocuscus rufoniger ). Females are usually chocolate brown in color on the back, top of the head, and the outside of the limbs. The face, ears, hands and feet and the tail are reddish brown. The ventral side from the chest to the tail and sometimes the chin are whitish. In the males, the white of the belly side continues uninterrupted to the chin. Its chocolate-brown back is patterned with numerous, irregular cream-white spots. Pages also appear completely white or partially melanistic specimens. The eyes are brown. The head is relatively wide in relation to length and the teeth are relatively large in relation to head size.
Habitat and way of life
The manus spotted cuscus occurs in all vegetation zones from undisturbed forests to gardens. The animals are often seen climbing only a little above the ground. The diet of the species has not yet been studied in detail. Cubs are usually born in July and August, and pouched females have been observed between September and December. Then the female transports her young on her back. In June of the following year the young animals are then independent.
Danger
The manus spotted cuscus lives only on a few small and medium-sized islands, but is relatively common in the areas where it occurs. Some of the islands may have been reached by the species with the help of humans. On Manus, the largest island, the Manus spotted cuscus is hunted and regularly offered as bushmeat in the markets. The IUCN estimates the existence of the manus spotted cusus as potentially endangered ( Near Threatened ).
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 , pp. 495-496.