Striped bagler

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Striped bagler
Big striped bag

Big striped bag

Systematics
Class : Mammals (mammalia)
Subclass : Marsupials (Marsupialia)
Superordinate : Australidelphia
Order : Diprotodontia
Family : Glide pouches (Petauridae)
Genre : Striped bagler
Scientific name
Dactylopsila
Gray , 1858

The striped pouches ( Dactylopsila ), also striped phalanges , are a genus of marsupials from the family of the glide pouches (Petauridae). Despite belonging to this family, like their closest relative, the croissant , they do not have any sliding membranes . The genus is divided into five types.

Striped baggers are native to New Guinea and its offshore islands as well as to the Cape York Peninsula in northeastern Australia . They get their name from the three black or dark brown stripes that run along the back of the otherwise white or light gray colored fur. A noticeable feature is the thin, elongated fourth finger of the forefeet that ends in a hook-shaped nail. This finger is similar to that of the finger animal and serves the same purpose to catch insects out of holes and crevices. Greatly enlarged incisors are used to gnaw the tree bark in order to get to their prey. Striped baggers reach a head body length of 17 to 32 centimeters and a weight of 250 to 550 grams. The tail is bushy, it ends in a white tip and is around 17 to 40 centimeters long.

Striped buccaneers are nocturnal forest inhabitants, they live on trees and with one exception only rarely, if ever, come to the ground. During the day they sleep in a leaf nest in order to look for food at night. Their diet consists mainly of insects, but they also consume fruit and nectar.

They defend themselves against predators with an extremely foul-smelling glandular secretion. In connection with the striped fur pattern, parallels to the skunks can be seen.

While male striped hives are loners, females are often found in groups of females, together with their offspring. Presumably there will be fierce rival fights between the males during the mating season. Otherwise, little is known about the reproduction.

Striped baglers are divided into five types:

  • The great striped bucket ( Dactylopsila trivirgata ) is common in New Guinea and northeast Queensland . It is the best-researched and most widespread species.
  • The Tate striped bucket ( Dactylopsila tatei ) lives exclusively on Ferguson Island off the south coast of New Guinea. Because of its small distribution area, it is considered threatened.
  • The brush- tailed striped bucket ( Dactylopsila megalura ) is native to western New Guinea.
  • The Arfak striped bagler ( Dactylopsila kamburayai ) lives in the Arfak Mountains on the Vogelkop peninsula in western New Guinea.
  • The long-finger striped bucket ( Dactylopsila palpator ) is sometimes listed in its own sub-genus, Dactylonax . The extended fourth finger is particularly pronounced in this species, and it is also considered to live more on the ground than the other species of striped hippopotamus. Their home is central and eastern New Guinea.

supporting documents

  1. ↑ Stephen Jackson: Family Petauridae (Striped Possums, Leadbeater's Possum and Lesser Gliders). Pp. 559-560 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

Web links

Commons : Stripe Beans ( Dactylopsila )  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files