Spilocuscus papuensis (Desmarest, 1822)

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 : 495

25.

Waigeo Spotted Cuscus

Spilocuscus papuensis

French: Phalanger de Waigeo / German: Waigeo-Tupfelkuskus / Spanish: Cuscus de Waigeo

Other common names: \ Waigeo Cuscus

Taxonomy. Phalangista papuensis Desmarest, 1822 ,

“ La terre des Papous [= Papua ].”

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. Endemic to Waigeo I and the adjacent Gam I in the Raja AmpatIs, off the W coast of New Guinea. It may also occur on nearby Batanta I.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 47-2— 56:9 cm, tail 47.2-55.7 cm; weight c.2:6 kg. The Waigeo Spotted Cuscus differs from other spotted cuscuses in that both sexes are spotted. Entire underside and base color of the dorsum are creamcolored, and spots are dark brown or blackish extending over back, head, and limbs. Tail is usually marked with gold or red-brown spotting, and dorsum is usually covered in yellowish wash and often exhibits lighter yellowish and brownish mottling. Although both sexes are spotted, their patterns differ conspicuously: spots of males are big and blotchy and those of females are small and more discrete. The Waigeo Spotted Cuscus is smaller-bodied than the various species of Spilocuscus from mainland New Guinea, but it is larger (at least in skull size) compared with certain other insular species (e.g. Common Spotted Cuscus, S. maculatus ; Admiralty Spotted Cuscus, S. kraemeri ; and Blue-eyed Spotted Cuscus, S. wilsoni) and the Australian Spotted Cuscus (S. nudicaudatus). Tail length is less than head-body length. Iris is variable in color, ranging from red to hazel, light brown, or dark brown. Skull of the Waigeo Spotted Cuscus is highly distinctive; notable traits include narrowed large upper premolar, relatively small molars, uniquely short palatal vacuities, and very long anterior palatal (incisive) foramina. Second upper premolaris usually retained in adult dentition, and there are usually three lower unicuspids. As in the Black-spotted Cuscus ( S. rufoniger ), frontal on anterior margin of orbit of the Waigeo Spotted Cuscus typically contacts maxilla (highly variable in other spotted cuscus).

Habitat. Primary and secondary tropical moist forest.

Food and Feeding. There is no information available for this species.

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

Activity patterns. There is no specific information available for this species, but the Waigeo Spotted Cuscus is reported to be active during the day and night.

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

Status and Conservation. CITES Appendix II. Classified as Vulnerable on The IUCN Red List. The Waigeo Spotted Cuscusis considered Vulnerable because its distribution is limited geographically, and it is susceptible to potential conservation threats such as increased hunting pressure or large-scale deforestation.

Bibliography. Feiler (1978), Flannery (1995b), George (1987), Helgen (2007b), Helgen, Aplin & Dickman (2008).

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. Endemic to Waigeo I and the adjacent Gam I in the Raja AmpatIs, off the W coast of New Guinea. It may also occur on nearby Batanta I.