Stein's couscous
| Stein's couscous | ||||||||||||
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Phalanger vestitus | ||||||||||||
| ( Milne-Edwards , 1877) |
Stein's couscous ( Phalanger vestitus ) is a marsupial from the climbing family (Phalangeridae), which occurs in New Guinea with three subspecies. Phalanger vestitus vestitus lives in the Tamrau and Arfak Mountains on the Vogelkop in western New Guinea, Phalanger vestitus interposiotus occurs in the Weyland Mountains in western New Guinea and in the Jayawijaya Mountains in the center and Phalanger vestitus permixtio lives in the central mountains in Papua New Guinea . Since the distribution areas of the three subspecies are widely separated, there are probably three different but very similar species.
features
Stein's cuscus reaches a head body length of 35 to 48.5 cm, has a 29 to 36 cm long prehensile tail and weighs 1.4 to 2.4 kg. The species can be easily distinguished from the silk cuscus ( Phalanger sericeus ) and the mountain cuscus ( Phalanger carmelitae ), some of which occur in the same range as Stein's cuscus, based on their color. Stein's couscous has a gray, more or less shiny fur, the fur of the other two species, on the other hand, is dark, chocolate brown to blackish. Stein's cuscus can be distinguished from the gray cuscus ( Phalanger orientalis ) by its longer fur and wider dark stripes along the middle of the back. The head of Stein's cuscus is medium-sized with a condylobasal length of 72 to 82 mm. The different populations differ slightly in their coloring. In central New Guinea and in the west, they have a white spot above the elbow, a feature not found in any other species of cuscus.
Habitat and way of life
Stein's couscous occurs in mountain forests at altitudes of 1200 to 2200 meters, on the Huon Peninsula at altitudes of 1200 to 2200 meters and in the east of its range at lower altitudes (1000 to 1600 m). It prefers oak forests and is sensitive to human interference. In parts of its range stone couscous lives sympatric with the Bergkuskus ( Phalanger carmelitae ), the Seidenkuskus ( Phalanger sericeus ) and the Gleichfarbkuskus ( Phalanger gymnotis ). Like all couscous, Stein's couscous primarily eats leaves and fruits, including those of the pseudo-chestnut and southern oak . In addition, flowers, flower buds and pollen are consumed. The animals are nocturnal and solitary. They spend the day in tree hollows. Little is known about the reproduction of the animals. The females only get one young animal per litter.
Danger
The IUCN estimates the existence of the stone Kuskus as safe ( Least Concern ).
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. 492.