Phalanger intercastellanus (Thomas, 1895)

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 : 491

18.

Eastern Common Cuscus

Phalanger intercastellanus

French: Phalanger de d'Entrecasteaux / German: Ostlicher Grauer Kuskus / Spanish: Cuscus oriental

Taxonomy. Phalanger orientalis intercastellanus Thomas, 1895 ,

“ D’Entrecasteaux ” (= Fergusson, D’Entrecasteaux Archipelago, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea).

This species has often been included within the closely related species P. orientalis . Populations from the Trans-Fly region of New Guinea, Aru Islands, and Cape York Peninsula of Australia, included in P. intercastellanus in the past, are now regarded as a separate species, P. mimicus . Monotypic.

Distribution. EE New Guinea, from the Markham Valley and the Huon Gulf S through the entire SE peninsula of Papua New Guinea, N and S of the Central Range. It occurs widely on islands off the SE coast, including the D’Entrecasteaux, Trobriand, and Louisiade archipelagos (Goodenough, Normanby, Fergusson, Kiriwina, Rossel, Sudest, Sariba, Sideia, and Itoh Is).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 35-45 cm, tail 27.5-32.5 cm; weight 1.4-2.2 kg. The Eastern Common Cuscus is a medium-sized cuscus (condylobasal length 70-87 mm), averaging smaller than the Northern Common Cuscus ( P. orientalis ) but larger than the Southern Common Cuscus ( P mimicus ). The Eastern Common Cuscus 1s an extremely variable species in terms of color, ranging from white to gray to reddish-brown. Color is generally sexually dichromatic; males are usually grayish-white, and females are usually gray or brown. Body has prominent dorsalstripe, and tail is dark-tipped.

Habitat. Primary and secondary tropical moist forest, especially in lowlands, from sea level to elevations of ¢.1250 m. The Eastern Common Cuscus is a fairly adaptable species; it is also found in rural gardens and thrives in island contexts.

Food and Feeding. There is no specific information available for this species, but the Eastern Common Cuscusis primarily folivorous—frugivorous.

Breeding. Pouch young of Eastern Common Cuscuses have been observed on Kiriwina Island in August and dependent young (240-265 g) on Normanby Island in December. Twin births of Eastern Common Cuscuses may be less common than in closely related Northern Common Cuscuses.

Activity patterns. There is no specific information available for this species, but the Eastern Common Cuscus is no doubt nocturnal, like other species of Phalanger .

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

Status and Conservation. CITES Appendix II. Classified as Least Concern on The [UCN Red List. The Eastern Common Cuscus has a relatively wide distribution and presumably a large overall population. It also appears to be able to tolerate some degree of habitat modification. Major conservation threats include local hunting for food and habitat loss from logging and development of large-scale plantations, especially oil palm.

Bibliography. Flannery (1994a, 1995a, 1995b), Leary, Singadan, Menzies, Helgen, Wright, Allison, Hamilton, Salas & Dickman (2008), Norris & Musser (2001).

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. EE New Guinea, from the Markham Valley and the Huon Gulf S through the entire SE peninsula of Papua New Guinea, N and S of the Central Range. It occurs widely on islands off the SE coast, including the D’Entrecasteaux, Trobriand, and Louisiade archipelagos (Goodenough, Normanby, Fergusson, Kiriwina, Rossel, Sudest, Sariba, Sideia, and Itoh Is).