Dendrolagus dorianus, Ramsay, 1883

Russell A. Mittermeier & Don E. Wilson, 2015, Macropodidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 5 Monotremes and Marsupials, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 630-735 : 704-705

21.

Doria’s. Tree Kangaroo

Dendrolagus dorianus

French: Dendrolague de Doria / German: Doria-Baumkanguru / Spanish: Canguro arboricola de Doria

Other common names: Doria’s Tree-kangaroo, Unicolored Tree Kangaroo; Ifola (notatus), WWondiwoi Tree Kangaroo (mayri), Seri's Tree Kangaroo (stellarum)

Taxonomy. Dendrolagus dorianus Ramsay, 1883 ,

“ ranges behind Mt Astrolabe ,” south-eastern Papua New Guinea.

D. dorianus exhibits morphological and genetic differentiation across its range, prompting recommendations that one or more subspecies be recognized as full species. Additional sampling, as well as comprehensive morphological, and genetic studies, are required in order to clarify its taxonomy. Four subspecies currently recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

D. d. dorianus Ramsay, 1883 — SE Papua New Guinea.

D. d. mayri Rothschild & Dollman, 1933 — Wondiwoi Peninsula, West Papua.

D. d. notatus Matschie, 1916 — E Central Range, Papua New Guinea.

D. d. stellarum Flannery & Seri, 1990 — W Central Range from C West Papua (Paniai Lakes) E to W Papua New Guinea (Hak-Orn region, NE of Telefomin).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 55-78 cm (males) and 59:6-77 cm (females), tail 49.7-60 cm (males) and 45-66.2 cm (females); weight 9.1-13.4 kg (males) and 8-2— 11-8 kg (females) for D. d. dorianus ; head—body 63-5 cm, tail 57 cm; weight 9-3 kg (male) for D. d. mayri; head—body 58-69 cm (males) and 51:5-63 cm (females), tail 43.5-56.5 cm (males) and 43-54 cm (females); weight 7.9-1 kg (males) and 6.6-5 kg (females) for D. d. notatus; head-body 63.4-70 cm (males) and 61-62.6 cm (females), tail 52-57 cm (males) and 49-58.5 cm (females); weight 7.5-9.5 kg (males) and 6.5-6.8 kg (females) for D. d. stellarum . Large, compact, short-tailed, short-footed, densely furred, predominantly brown tree kangaroo with rounded head and short well-furred ears. Number and position of hair whorls is variable. D. d. dorianus is larger than other subspecies and predominantly dark to light chocolate-brown, with paler face but blackish paws, feet, and tail; pale brown to orange mark on dorsal surface oftail at base; tail lightly grizzled with pale hairs, especially toward tip. D. d. notatus is very dark to pale brown, typically paler, and somewhat silvery on limbs and sometimes face, head or neck;tail is grayer and yellowish, variably grizzled with pale hairs, and sometimes banded; distinct yellowish ring around base of tail sometimes extends ventrally to cloaca. D. d. mayri is the most brightly colored, being dark blackish brown but heavily frosted with yellow hairs, head, limbs and rump reddish,tail pale yellow to white. D. d. stellarum is predominantly dark brown dorsally, heavily frosted with silvery hairs, especially anteriorly, often paler and more golden distally; indistinct dark mid-dorsal stripe occasionally present; ventral surface also dark brown, but lacks frosting of silver hairs; face sometimes more yellow or reddish, limbs more yellow or grayish;tail yellowish, especially proximally, but more gray distally, with long terminal tuft in some specimens. Diploid chromosome number of D. d. dorianus or D. d. notatusis 12.

Habitat. Primary, mossy, mid-montane to upper-montane tropical rainforest and subalpine scrub, from 600 m to 3650 m elevation ( D. d. dorianus ); 900-3100 m (D. d. notatus); 2600-3200 m ( D. d. stellarum ), and at 1600 m elevation (D. d. mayri).

Food and Feeding. Poorly known. Reported to eat leaves of forest trees, shrubs, and epiphytes. Feeds both in forest canopy and on ground.

Breeding. Poorly known. Appears to breed throughout year, female producing a single young. In captivity mating occurred on ground. Significant sexual size dimorphism suggests intense competition among males for access to females.

Activity patterns. Poorly known. Reported to be diurnal or crepuscular both in captivity and in the wild. Activity may be reduced in heavy rain.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Poorly known. Appears to occur at low density and spends considerable time on ground. In captivity, D. d. dorianus seems to prefer to sleep and rest on ground. D. d. notatus and D. d. stellarum are reportedly solitary, but in captivity D. d. dorianus is highly social and forms small stable groups, comprising a single dominant male and several females, with a dominance hierarchy among females, but little overt aggression within group.

Status and Conservation. Treated as four separate species on The IUCN Red Lust. D. dorianus (monotypic) classified as Vulnerable; “D. mayri” classified as Critically Endangered; “D. notatus” classified as Endangered; and “ D. stellarum ” classified as Vulnerable. Doria’s Tree Kangaroo has declined significantly in many areas, with some local extinctions. It continues to be threatened by intense hunting by local people for food, as well as by loss and degradation of habitat resulting from expanding agriculture and logging. D. d. mayri may already be extinct, as it has not been reported since first and only known specimen was collected, in 1928. Doria’s Tree Kangaroo occurs in several protected areas; while occasionally kept in zoos throughout the world, a viable captive population outside New Guinea has not been established. Additional research on taxonomy, distribution, abundance, diet, behavior, reproduction, and impact of threats is required.

Bibliography. Bowyer et al. (2003), Flannery (1995a), Flannery & Seri (1990b), Flannery et al. (1996), Ganslofer (1977 1979, 1983, 1984), Groves (2005b), Hayman (1989), Helgen (2007a), Kawei (1989), Leary, Seri, Flannery, Wright, Hamilton, Helgen, Singadan, Menzies, Allison & James (2008d, 2008f, 2008g), Leary, Seri, Flannery, Wright, Hamilton, Helgen, Singadan, Menzies, Allison, James, Aplin et al. (2008e), Martin, R.W. (2005), Menzies (2011), Rothschild & Dollman (1933b).

Figures

10. Rufous-bellied Pademelon (Thylogale billardieru), 11. Red-necked Pademelon (Thylogale thetis), 12. Red-legged Pademelon (Thylogale stigmatica), 13. New Guinea Pademelon (Thylogale browni), 14. Dusky Pademelon (Thylogale brunii), 15. Calaby’s Pademelon (Thylogale calabyi), 16. Bennett's Tree Kangaroo (Dendrolagus bennettianus), 17. Lumholtz’s Tree Kangaroo (Dendrolagus lumholtzi), 18. Grizzled Tree Kangaroo (Dendrolagus inustus), 19. Vogelkop Tree Kangaroo (Dendrolagus ursinus), 20. Dingiso (Dendrolagus mbaiso), 21. Doria’s. 9 Tree Kangaroo Dendrolagus (- dorianus), 22. Scott’s Tree Kangaroo (Dendrolagus scottae), 23. Goodfellow’s Tree Kangaroo (Dendrolagus goodfellowi), 24. Huon Tree Kangaroo (Dendrolagus matschie), 25. Lowland Tree Kangaroo (Dendrolagus spadix)

Subspecies and Distribution. D. d. dorianus Ramsay, 1883 — SE Papua New Guinea. D. d. mayri Rothschild & Dollman, 1933 — Wondiwoi Peninsula, West Papua. D. d. notatus Matschie, 1916 — E Central Range, Papua New Guinea. D. d. stellarum Flannery & Seri, 1990 — W Central Range from C West Papua (Paniai Lakes) E to W Papua New Guinea (Hak-Orn region, NE of Telefomin).