Sulawesi bear cuscus

Sulawesi bear cuscus[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Infraclass: Marsupialia
Order: Diprotodontia
Family: Phalangeridae
Genus: Ailurops
Species:
A. ursinus
Binomial name
Ailurops ursinus
(Temminck, 1824)
Sulawesi bear cuscus range
Synonyms

Phalanger ursinus (Temminck, 1824)

The Sulawesi bear cuscus, also known as the Sulawesi bear phalanger (Ailurops ursinus), is a species of arboreal marsupial in the family Phalangeridae that is endemic to Sulawesi and nearby islands in Indonesia. It lives in tropical moist lowland forest at elevations up to 600 m (2,000 ft) and is diurnal, folivorous and often found in pairs.[2] A. ursinus is threatened by hunting, collection for the pet trade and deforestation.[2]

When approached, their automatic reaction is to wrap their tail around a nearby branch and switch from tripedal and bipedal posture with their foreleg raised. While doing these movements, they're constantly making short, harsh sounds.[3]

Bear cuscuses can feed on the young leaves of up to 31 different species of plants varying from trees, lianas, and mistletoes.[4] Feeding only amounts to about 5% of their daily activity, compared to about 63% spent on resting.[4]

Gallery

  • Male in Tangkoko Nature Reserve
    Male in Tangkoko Nature Reserve
  • Female and infant on fruiting Ficus tree in Tangkoko
    Female and infant on fruiting Ficus tree in Tangkoko
  • Bear cuscus in Sulawesi
    Bear cuscus in Sulawesi
  • Ailurops ursinus in Tangkoko
    Ailurops ursinus in Tangkoko

References

  1. ^ Groves, C. P. (2005). "Order Diprotodontia". In Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 45. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
  2. ^ a b c Salas, L.; Dickman, C.; Helgen, K.; Flannery, T. (2019). "Ailurops ursinus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T40637A21949654. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T40637A21949654.en. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  3. ^ Bool, Ian; Slaymaker, Matthew; Magrath, Robert D.; Arfian, Arthur; Karya, Adi; Analuddin, Kangkuso; Courtney Jones, Stephanie K. (May 2021). "First record of acoustic behaviour in Sulawesi bear cuscus ( Ailurops ursinus )". Austral Ecology. 46 (3): 507–512. Bibcode:2021AusEc..46..507B. doi:10.1111/aec.12993. ISSN 1442-9985. S2CID 234387519.
  4. ^ a b Dwiyahreni, Asri A.; Kinnaird, Margaret F.; O'Brien, Timothy G.; Supriatna, Jatna; Andayani, Noviar (1999). "Diet and Activity of the Bear Cuscus, Ailurops ursinus, in North Sulawesi, Indonesia". Journal of Mammalogy. 80 (3): 905–12. doi:10.2307/1383259. ISSN 0022-2372. JSTOR 1383259.


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