Brown dorcopsis [1] | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Infraclass: | Marsupialia |
Order: | Diprotodontia |
Family: | Macropodidae |
Genus: | Dorcopsis |
Species: | D. muelleri |
Binomial name | |
Dorcopsis muelleri (Schlegel, 1866) | |
Brown dorcopsis range | |
Synonyms | |
The brown dorcopsis (Dorcopsis muelleri), also known as the brown forest wallaby, is a species of marsupial in the family Macropodidae. It is endemic to the lowlands of West New Guinea (Southwest Papua, West Papua, Central Papua, Papua) and the nearby Indonesian islands (Salawati, Misool, Yapen). [2]
This species was originally described under the name Kangurus veterum by René Lesson. The lack of a physical holotype has led to confusion as to whether that name applies to this species or to the sympatric grizzled tree kangaroo. Jean Quoy and Joseph Gaimard would give the species a new name soon after: Kangurus brunii, which was a preoccupied name and therefore could not be used. The next name given to this species would be Hermann Schlegel's "Macropus muelleri" over 25 years later. [3]
This species has consistently been called Dorcopsis muelleri since 1866; however, many authors and taxonomic databases continue to recognize Lesson as the author, even though the specific epithet muelleri does not appear in his 1827 work. [4] The American Society of Mammalogists [3] recognizes Schlegel as the correct author, but Wilson & Reeder's 2005 work Mammal Species of the World [1] and the ITIS both recognize Lesson. Depending on the validity of Lesson's description, this species's taxonomic name may be changed in the future.
This species is named after Salomon Müller, a prominent Dutch naturalist and taxidermist who worked with Schlegel, and after whom Schlegel named several species. [5]
Five subspecies of Dorcopsis muelleri are recognised. The dorsal colour is dull brown, chocolate brown, reddish brown or fawn and the underparts are whitish, creamy-yellow or greyish. The arms are sometimes paler than the dorsal surface and the tip of the tail is devoid of hair. [6]
The brown dorcopsis is endemic to the western end of New Guinea and the islands to the west of this, Misool and Salawati and possibly also Batanta and Waigeo. [6] Its typical habitat is swampy tropical lowland forest including areas that flood in the rainy season, and it is believed to be tolerant of secondary forest, including abandoned gardens. [2]
Many bones have been found in the deposits on the floor of two caves used by hunters, the result of 26,000 years of human occupation of this area of western New Guinea. 80% of the animal bones belonged to the brown dorcopsis, known locally as "djief", and the occupants of these caves are consequently known as "djief hunters". [7]
The brown dorcopsis has a broad distribution. It is common in the south coastal part of its range but less common in the centre of the Vogelkop Peninsula and overall its population seems to be stable. Much of its range is uninhabited by humans, but it is also present in areas close to human habitation. Its habitat can be affected by logging, especially on Yapen Island, and the clearing of forested land for small-scale agriculture. Although it is hunted for food, it faces no major threats, and therefore the IUCN lists it as being of "Least concern". [2]
The amethystine python, also known as the scrub python or sanca permata in Indonesian, is a species of non-venomous snake in the family Pythonidae. The species is found in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. Popular among reptile enthusiasts, and noted for its coloration and size, it is one of the largest snakes in the world, as measured either by length or weight, and is the largest native snake in Papua New Guinea. Until 2000, the larger S. kinghorni was generally considered a subspecies of S. amethistina, and this change of classification has still not been universally reflected in literature. Because of this issue, S. amethistina has often been described as the largest snake in Australia, but this is not accurate since under the current classification, this species does not occur in Australia.
The rusty pitohui is a species of bird in the family Pachycephalidae. It is found throughout the lowlands of the Aru Islands and New Guinea.
Raja Ampat, or the Four Kings, is an archipelago located off of the northwest tip of Bird's Head Peninsula, Southwest Papua province, Indonesia. It comprises over 1,500 small islands, cays, and shoals around the four main islands of Misool, Salawati, Batanta, and Waigeo, and the smaller island of Kofiau.
Misool, formerly spelled Mysol or Misol, is one of the four major islands in the Raja Ampat Islands in Southwest Papua, Indonesia. Its area is 2,034 km2. The highest point is 561 m and the main towns are Waigama, located on the island's northwest coast, and Lilinta on the island's southeast coast.
The dusky lory is a species of parrot in the family Psittaculidae. Alternative common names are the white-rumped lory or the dusky-orange lory. It is found in New Guinea and the offshore islands of Batanta, Salawati and Yapen. They are also known as "banded lories" or "duskies".
The hook-billed kingfisher is a species of kingfisher in the subfamily Halcyoninae that is resident in the lowland forested areas of New Guinea and some of the nearby islands. It is the only member of the genus Melidora.
The frilled monarch is a species of bird in the family Monarchidae. As currently defined, its range is restricted to forest on New Guinea and nearby smaller islands, but historically it has included some or all of the remaining members of the genus Arses as subspecies.
The grizzled tree-kangaroo is a furry, long-tailed mammal native to tropical rainforests on the island of New Guinea. Like most tree-kangaroos, it lives in trees and eats leaves, fruit, and bark. It is a member of the macropod family Macropodidae and carries its young in a pouch like other marsupials. The tree-kangaroo is uncommon and threatened by hunting and habitat loss. It is found in foothill forests of northern and western New Guinea and is indigenous to some of the offshore islands.
The black dorcopsis or black forest wallaby is a species of marsupial in the family Macropodidae. It is endemic to Goodenough Island at the eastern end of New Guinea where its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests. It is threatened by habitat loss and hunting, its population is declining and the IUCN lists it as being "Critically endangered".
Dorcopsis is a genus of marsupial in the family Macropodidae. The members of the genus are found on the island of New Guinea.
The white-striped dorcopsis or greater forest wallaby is a species of marsupial in the family Macropodidae. It is found in the northern part of Western New Guinea, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. It is a common species in suitable tropical forest habitat and the IUCN lists its conservation status as being of "Least concern".
The gray dorcopsis or gray forest wallaby is a species of marsupial in the family Macropodidae. It is found in West Papua and Papua New Guinea.
Macleay's dorcopsis, also known as the Papuan dorcopsis or the Papuan forest wallaby, is a species of marsupial in the family Macropodidae. It is endemic to Papua New Guinea, where its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forest. Being little threatened by habitat destruction, the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated it as being of "least concern".
The small dorcopsis or lesser forest wallaby is a species of marsupial in the family Macropodidae. It is found in the mountainous interior of West Papua and Papua New Guinea. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests. It is less common than it used to be and the IUCN has assessed it as being "near threatened".
The northern common cuscus, also known as the gray cuscus, is a species of marsupial in the family Phalangeridae native to northern New Guinea and adjacent smaller islands, but is now also found in the Bismarck Archipelago, southeast and central Moluccas, the Solomons, and Timor, where it is believed to have been introduced in prehistoric times from New Guinea. It was formerly considered conspecific with the allopatric P. intercastellanus and P. mimicus.
The peach-throated monitor, also known as the Sepik monitor, is a species of monitor lizard native to New Guinea.
The New Guinea naked-backed fruit bat is a species of megabat native to Papua New Guinea and the Indonesian islands of Waigeo, Yapen, Batanta, and Misool.
Septaria porcellana is a species of freshwater snail, a gastropod mollusc in the family Neritidae.
Sphenomorphus jobiensis is a species of skink. It is found in New Guinea, the Admiralty Islands, Bismarck Archipelago, and eastern Indonesia.
The Vogelkop–Aru lowland rain forests is a tropical moist forest ecoregion in Indonesia. The ecoregion covers the peninsular lowlands of western New Guinea, along with the Aru Islands and other nearby islands.
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