Spilocuscus wilsoni, Helgen & Flannery, 2004

Russell A. Mittermeier & Don E. Wilson, 2015, Phalangeridae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 5 Monotremes and Marsupials, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 456-497 : 496

27.

Blue-eyed Spotted Cuscus

Spilocuscus wilsoni

French: Phalanger de Wilson / German: Blauaugen-TUpfelkuskus / Spanish: Cusclis moteado de ojos azules

Other common names: Biak Spotted Cuscus, Wilson's Spotted Cuscus

Taxonomy. Spilocuscus wilson: Helgen & Flannery, 2004 ,

“Biak, Cenderawasih (= Geelvink) Bay (Papua, Indonesia).”

No subspecies have been described. Further taxonomic studies of the distinctness of this species compared with various regional representatives of S. maculatus are needed. Monotypic.

Distribution. Numfor, Supiori, and Biak Is in Cenderawasih Bay, NW New Guinea.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 33.5-48 cm, tail 28.5-33 cm; weight 1.2-2.1 kg. The Blue-eyed Spotted Cuscus is a small species of spotted cuscus (condylobasal length of skull less than 95 mm). Pelage is all white or white with red-orange spotting. All-white color appears to be the predominant phase in males (although only small samples are available for study); in contrast, this is a more rare color form in male Common Spotted Cuscuses ( S. maculatus ), and more common in females, in northern New Guinean populations. The Blue-eyed Spotted Cuscus is the only species of Spilocuscus with blue or blue-green eyes; in all other species, irises are red-brown to hazel. Cheekteeth are relatively large, and tooth row is long relative to skull length. Zygomata are especially widely splayed.

Habitat. Primary and secondary forest.

Food and Feeding. One study of the diet of the Blue-eyed Spotted Cuscus reported percentages of food types as 76-1% fruit, 13-4% foliage, 9% flowers, and 1:5% shoots.

Breeding. There is no specific information available for this species, but the Blue-eyed Spotted Cuscus produces one offspring at a time.

Activity patterns. There is no specific information available for this species, but the Blue-eyed Spotted Cuscus has been recorded as active day and night.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. There is no information available for this species.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Critically Endangered on The IUCN Red List. Deforestation, hunting, and captive animal trade are major conservation threats to the Blue-eyed Spotted Cuscus. Populations are thought to have declined by more than 80% in the last ten years due to deforestation on Biak-Supiori Island and from high levels of exploitation. Studies of Blue-eyed Spotted Cuscuses in the wild should be considered priorities for enabling effective conservation.

Bibliography. Aplin & Helgen (2008), Dahruddin et al. (2005), Flannery (1995a), Helgen & Flannery (2004b).

Figures

11. Peleng Cuscus (Phalanger pelengensus), 12. Moluccan Cuscus (Phalanger ornatus), 13. Gebe Cuscus (Phalanger alexandrae), 14. Obi Cuscus (Phalanger rothschildi), 15. Ground Cuscus (Phalanger gymnotis), 16. Woodlark Cuscus (Phalanger lullulae), 17. Northern Common Cuscus (Phalanger orientalis), 18. Eastern Common Cuscus (Phalanger intercastellanus), 19. Southern Common Cuscus (Phalanger mimicus), 20. Telefomin Cuscus (Phalanger matanim), 21. Stein’s Cuscus (Phalanger vestitus), 22. Silky Cuscus (Phalanger sericeus), 23. Mountain Cuscus (Phalanger carmelitae), 24. Black Spotted Cuscus (Spilocuscus rufoniger), 25. Waigeo Spotted Cuscus (Spilocuscus papuensis), 26. Admiralty Spotted Cuscus (Spilocuscus kraemeri), 27. Blue-eyed Spotted Cuscus (Spilocuscus wilsoni), 28. Common Spotted Cuscus (Spilocuscus maculatus), 29. Australian Spotted Cuscus (Spilocuscus nudicaudatus)

Distribution. Numfor, Supiori, and Biak Is in Cenderawasih Bay, NW New Guinea.