Dendrolagus goodfellowi, Thomas, 1908

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 : 705-706

23.

Goodfellow’s Tree Kangaroo

Dendrolagus goodfellowi

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

Other common names: Goodfellow's Tree-kangaroo, Ornate Tree Kangaroo; Golden-mantled Tree Kangaroo (pulcherrimus)

Taxonomy. Dendrolagus goodfellowi Thomas, 1908 ,

“ Owen Stanley Range , near Mt. Obree, British New Guinea. Alt. 8000°,” (= south-eastern Papua New Guinea).

Previously considered a subspecies of D. matschiei , but reinstated as a separate species in 1990. D. goodfellow : shows morphological differentiation across its range, prompting suggestions from some authors that pulcherrimus , be regarded as a full species. Additional sampling, as well as comprehensive morphological and genetic studies, is required in order to clarify taxonomy. Three subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

D.g.goodfellowiThomas,1908—SEPapuaNewGuinea.

D.g.buergersiMatschie,1912—CentralRangeofPapuaNewGuinea.

D. g. pulcherrimus Flannery, 1993 — Torricelli Mts and Foja Mts, N New Guinea.

An introduced population is present in W New Britain, Bismarck Archipelago.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 50-84.5 cm (males) and 53.5-63.5 cm (females), tail 64.5-85.5 cm (males) and 53.5-63.5 cm (females); weight 6:7.9-5 kg (males) and 5.6-8.6 kg (females). Small, long-tailed, distinctly marked, brown-and-yellow tree kangaroo. Chestnut to dark brown dorsally, including upper limbs, paler and more sparsely furred ventrally. Dark brown mid-dorsal stripe of variable prominence and thickness from top of head to base oftail. Hair whorl on dorsal midline on middle to lower back. Prominent paired yellow to gold stripes on rump and fainter paired stripes on neck and back of head. Lower limbs yellow to gold, contrasting strongly with upper limbs/ body, although digits often dark. Head similar color to body or paler, especially on face and cheeks. Long, dark brown tail well covered with short hair, often paler ventrally and proximally, as well as mottled with highly variable yellow to gold rings and blotches along its length. D. g. goodfellowi and D. g. buergersi are similar to each other, but former is larger and perhaps paler and less distinctly marked. D. g. pulcherrimus is distinct in having pale (pale yellow to golden-orange) face, head, neck, and upper back, white ear margins, and pale yellow to white rings on tail; mid-dorsal stripe is darker and more prominent, while paired rump stripes are less distinct; upper limbs and flanks are very dark reddish brown, grading into pale paws and feet. Diploid chromosome number of D. g. buergersiis 14.

Habitat. Mid-montane tropical rainforest from 1000 m to 2860 m (buergersi), and 680 m to 1120 m ( pulcherrimus ). D. g. goodfellowi is found in primary and secondary lowland and mid-montane tropical rainforest up to 800 m elevation.

Food and Feeding. Poorly known. Reported to eat the leaves of a variety of forest trees, vines, ferns, and shrubs, and sometimes fruit. Appears to feed both in forest canopy and on ground. In captivity consumes a variety of browse, fruit, vegetables, and meat.

Breeding. The estrous cycle is 54 days and gestation 45 days. Embryonic diapause may occur. Females appear to breed throughout year and produce a single young (there is one record of twins). Young spend 8-10 months in the pouch and are weaned at twelve months, then accompany the mother for a further 2-3 months. In captivity, females come into estrus shortly after a young has left pouch.

Activity patterns. Diurnal or crepuscular in captivity and in remote areas. Largely nocturnal where heavily hunted.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Poorly known. Reported to associate in pairs or small groups. In captivity, pairs and trios (one male, two females) can be successfully housed together.

Status and Conservation. Treated as two species on The IUCN Red List: “D. goodfellow:” (with subspecies D. g. buergersi) classified as Endangered, and “ D. pulcherrimus ” classified as Critically Endangered. Goodfellow’s Tree Kangaroo has declined significantly in many areas, with some local extinctions. It continues to be threatened by heavy hunting for food and trade by local people, as well as by loss and degradation of habitat resulting from expanding subsistence and commercial agriculture and logging. Goodfellow’s Tree Kangaroo occurs in several protected areas. Nominate subspecies D. g. goodfellowi is rarely reported and poorly known. The population of D. g. pulcherrimus in Torricelli Mountains has disappeared from more than 90% of its range in recent decades and is now on verge of extinction. The Tenkile Conservation Alliance has been working with communities in Torricelli Mountains since 2001 to improve biodiversity conservation and local living standards, as well as promoting research. A hunting moratorium for D. g. pulcherrimus , first established in 2007, has since been expanded to include 30 villages. A permanent Conservation Area in the Torricelli Mountains is currently being established. A small number of D. g. pulcherrimus are currently held in captivity in Papua New Guinea. D. g. buergersi is regularly kept in zoos throughout the world, although total captive population outside Papua New Guinea remains small and may not be viable in the long term. Additional research on taxonomy, distribution, abundance, diet, behavior, reproduction, and impact of threats is required.

Bibliography. Flannery (1990a, 1993, 1995a), Flannery et al. (1996), GanslofRer (1981), Groves (1982, 2005b), Hayman (1989), Helgen (2007a), Hide et al. (1984), Kingston (1994), Leary, Wright, Hamilton, Helgen, Singadan, Aplin, Salas et al. (2008), Leary, Seri, Wright, Hamilton, Helgen, Singadan, Menzies, Allison, James, Dickman, Aplin, Flannery et al. (2008c), Martin, R.W. (2005), Menzies (2011), TCA (2012).

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.g.goodfellowiThomas,1908—SEPapuaNewGuinea. D.g.buergersiMatschie,1912—CentralRangeofPapuaNewGuinea. D. g. pulcherrimus Flannery, 1993 — Torricelli Mts and Foja Mts, N New Guinea. An introduced population is present in W New Britain, Bismarck Archipelago.