Phalanger ornatus (Gray, 1860)

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 : 489

12.

Moluccan Cuscus

Phalanger ornatus

French: Phalanger des Moluques / German: Molukken-Kuskus / Spanish: Cuscus de las Molucas

Other common names: Ornate Cuscus; Blue-eyed Cuscus (matabiru)

Taxonomy. Cuscus ornatus Gray, 1860 ,

“ Island of Batchian ” (= Bacan Island ), North Moluccas, Indonesia.

This species has occasionally been placed in the genus Strigocuscus but belongs within Phalanger . The form matabiru (described as a new subspecies in 1995) has recently been recognized as a distinct species but without a detailed re-assessment. Close examination of all available museum material suggests that differences between matabiru and ornatus are real but slight and that matabiru is best classified as a subspecies of P. ornatus , as originally described. This species occurs in northern Sulawesi and North Moluccas. Records from Sulawesi (museum specimens and field observations) are newly documented and have previously been erroneously attributed to S. celebensis , with which it co-occursin the northern peninsula of Sulawesi. Closer study may show that P. alexandrae also should be recognized as a subspecies of P. ornatus . Two subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution. P.o.ornatusGray,1860—EtipofNSulawesi,andthelargerNorthMoluccanIs(Halmahera,Bacan,andMorotai). P. o. matabiru Flannery & Boeadi, 1995 — smaller North Moluccan Is (Ternate and Tidore).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 35-5—42 cm,tail 28.5-36 cm; weight 1.2-2.2 kg. Usual fur of the Moluccan Cuscus is light brown to yellow or orange, with adults having highly irregular white patches and spotting and narrow dark dorsalstripe. Skull of the Moluccan Cuscus is small to medium-sized (condylobasal length 67-85 mm), with a prominent diastema between incisor and canine. In the population of the Moluccan Cuscus from Ternate (more occasionally from elsewhere), iris is blue.

Habitat. Primary tropical moist and secondary forest, rural gardens, and other degraded habitats.

Food and Feeding. The Moluccan Cuscusis folivorous—frugivorous and has been observed eating fruits of nutmeg in rural gardens.

Breeding. Several observations of Moluccan Cuscuses in January found young ofall stages of development from newborn to subadult (weighing 900 g). No females were observed carrying more than one young.

Activity patterns. Moluccan Cuscuses are nocturnal and have been observed sleeping by day on tree branches, including those of a durian tree ( Durio zibethinus , Malvaceae ).

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

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. Although the Moluccan Cuscus is an island endemic with an extent of occurrence little more than 20,000 km? it is thought to have a large and reasonably stable population and seems to be tolerant to some degree of habitat degradation. The subspecies matabiru, which has sometimes been regarded as a separate species,is classified as Vulnerable on The IUCN Red List because ofits small insular distribution, threats from hunting, and its occurrence on Ternate Island with an active volcano.

Bibliography. Flannery (1994a, 1995b), Flannery & Boeadi (1995), Leary, Singadan, Menzies, Helgen, Wright, Allison & Flannery (2008a), Leary, Singadan, Menzies, Helgen, Wright, Allison, Flannery, Salas & Dickman (2008b).

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)

Subspecies and Distribution. P.o.ornatusGray,1860—EtipofNSulawesi,andthelargerNorthMoluccanIs(Halmahera,Bacan,andMorotai). P. o. matabiru Flannery & Boeadi, 1995 — smaller North Moluccan Is (Ternate and Tidore).