Doria's tree-kangaroo

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Doria's tree-kangaroo [1]
Macropodidae - Dendrolagus dorianus.JPG
Dendrolagus dorianus from New Guinea. Stuffed specimen.
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Infraclass: Marsupialia
Order: Diprotodontia
Family: Macropodidae
Genus: Dendrolagus
Species:
D. dorianus
Binomial name
Dendrolagus dorianus
Ramsay, 1883
Doria's Tree Kangaroo area.png
Doria's tree-kangaroo range

Doria's tree-kangaroo (Dendrolagus dorianus) is a long-tailed, furry, bear-like mammal found only in tropical mountain forests on the island of New Guinea (in Papua New Guinea). It is one of the largest tree-kangaroos (genus Dendrolagus ), living alone in trees and active at night to feed on leaves or fruit. It belongs to the macropod family (Macropodidae) with kangaroos, and carries its young in a pouch like other marsupials. Threats include hunting and habitat loss.

Contents

Distribution

This marsupial is found in montane forests of southeastern New Guinea island, at elevations between 600 and 3,650 metres (2,000 and 12,000 ft). [3] The species was named in 1883 by Edward Pierson Ramsay in honour of Italian zoologist Giacomo Doria. [4]

Description

Doria's tree-kangaroo is one of the largest tree-kangaroo species, and, on average, weighs between 6.5 and 14.5 kilograms (14 and 32 lb), its length is 51 to 78 centimetres (20.1 to 30.7 in), with a long 44 to 66 centimetres (17.3 to 26.0 in) tail. It has long dense brown fur with black ears and a pale brown or cream nonprehensile tail. [5] It has large and powerful claws and a stocky build that gives it a bear-like appearance. [4]

It is mostly solitary and nocturnal.

Its diet consists of various leaves, buds, flowers and fruits. The gestation period is about 30 days, after which, the single young remains in the mother's pouch for up to 10 months. [5]

A baby tree kangaroo on the chief's wife's shoulder Baby tree kangaroo on the chiefs wifes shoulder -Papua New Guinea-17Oct2008.jpg
A baby tree kangaroo on the chief's wife's shoulder
Conservation

Doria's tree-kangaroo is an IUCN Red List Vulnerable species. Its forest habitat is threatened by logging and forest clearance. Being large sized, it is also hunted for its meat. [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tree-kangaroo</span> Genus of marsupials

Tree-kangaroos are marsupials of the genus Dendrolagus, adapted for arboreal locomotion. They inhabit the tropical rainforests of New Guinea and far northeastern Queensland, along with some of the islands in the region. All tree-kangaroos are considered threatened due to hunting and habitat destruction. They are the only true arboreal macropods.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Macropodidae</span> Family of marsupial mammals

Macropodidae is a family of marsupials that includes kangaroos, wallabies, tree-kangaroos, wallaroos, pademelons, quokkas, and several other groups. These genera are allied to the suborder Macropodiformes, containing other macropods, and are native to the Australian continent, New Guinea and nearby islands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dingiso</span> Species of marsupial

The dingiso, also known as the bondegezou or bakaga, is an endangered, long-tailed marsupial found only in mountain forests on the west of the island of New Guinea. It is a species of tree-kangaroo, which are mammals native to Australia and New Guinea that feed on leaves or other plant matter. It belongs to the macropodid family (Macropodidae) with kangaroos, and carries its young in a pouch like most other marsupials. Though sacred to the local Moni people, it is still threatened by hunting and habitat loss.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matschie's tree-kangaroo</span> Species of marsupial

Matschie's tree-kangaroo, also known as the Huon tree-kangaroo is a tree-kangaroo native to the Huon Peninsula of northeastern New Guinea island, within the nation of Papua New Guinea. Under the IUCN classification, Matschie's tree-kangaroo is an endangered species. The scientific name honours German biologist Paul Matschie. The indigenous population refers to it as a Boongarry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern bettong</span> Species of marsupial

The northern bettong is a small, endangered, gerbil-like mammal native to forests in northeast Australia. A member of the rat-kangaroo family (Potoroidae), it moves by hopping and lives in burrows, feeding at night on roots and fungi. It is also a marsupial and carries its young in a pouch. The northern bettong is threatened by habitat loss, and is now restricted to a few small areas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goodfellow's tree-kangaroo</span> Species of marsupial

Goodfellow's tree-kangaroo, also called the ornate tree-kangaroo, is an endangered, long-tailed mammal native to rainforests of New Guinea. Like most tree-kangaroos, it lives in the treetops and feeds on leaves or other plant matter. It belongs to the macropod family (Macropodidae) along with kangaroos, and carries its young in a pouch like other marsupials. Its main threats are habitat loss and hunting. There are two subspecies: D. g. goodfellowi and D. g. buergersi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lumholtz's tree-kangaroo</span> Species of marsupial

Lumholtz's tree-kangaroo is a rare, long-tailed marsupial found in rainforests in northeastern Australia. Like most tree-kangaroos, it lives alone in trees and feeds on plant matter. It belongs to the macropod family (Macropodidae) with kangaroos, and carries its young in a pouch like other marsupials. It is threatened by climate change and diseases, and is found in the hilly, fertile Atherton Tableland near Cairns in north east Queensland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bennett's tree-kangaroo</span> Species of marsupial

Bennett's tree-kangaroo is a large tree-kangaroo. Males can weigh from 11.5 kg up to almost 14 kg, while the females range between about 8 to 10.6 kg. They are very agile and are able to leap 9 metres (30 ft) down to another branch and have been known to drop as far as 18 metres (59 ft) to the ground without injury.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Golden-mantled tree-kangaroo</span> Species of marsupial

The golden-mantled tree-kangaroo is a critically endangered, furry, bear-like mammal found only in mountain rain forests on the island of New Guinea. Like other tree-kangaroos, it lives in trees and feeds on plant matter. It belongs to the macropod family (Macropodidae) with kangaroos, and carries its young in a pouch like other marsupials. The range is restricted to two small mountain areas in the north and it is threatened by hunting and habitat loss.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grizzled tree-kangaroo</span> Species of marsupial

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tenkile</span> Species of marsupial

The tenkile, also known as Scott's tree-kangaroo, is a species of tree-kangaroo in the family Macropodidae. It is endemic to a very small area of the Torricelli Mountains of Papua New Guinea. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests. It is threatened by habitat loss and by hunting. The tenkile is listed as endangered due to hunting and logging activities in Papua New Guinea. The tenkile is hunted for its meat, and has been a main protein source for the local tribespeople. The local human population has increased in recent years, increasing demand for tenkile meat. Additionally, tenkiles are poached for their fur and are captured and sold as a part of the illegal pet trade. Domesticated dogs also hunt tenkiles. Deforestation in Papua New Guinea affects all tree-kangaroos, and industrial logging that occurs in the Torricelli Mountain Range decreases the species' already restricted habitat. The Torricelli Mountain Range faces additional deforestation due to the timber industry, and the production of coffee, rice and wheat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lowlands tree-kangaroo</span> Species of marsupial

The lowlands tree-kangaroo, also spelt "lowland," is a long-tailed, furry, bear-like mammal found only in lowland tropical rainforests on the island of New Guinea. It is a species of tree-kangaroo, which are tree-dwelling animals that feed on leaves or other plant matter. Tree-kangaroos are in the macropod family (Macropodidae) with kangaroos, and like other marsupials they carry their young in a pouch. The lowlands tree-kangaroo is threatened by habitat loss.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ursine tree-kangaroo</span> Species of marsupial

The ursine tree-kangaroo is a long-tailed, furry, bear-like mammal found only in tropical forests on the island of New Guinea. Slightly larger than a cat, it lives alone in trees and is active at night to feed on leaves and fruit. It belongs to the macropod family (Macropodidae) with kangaroos, and carries its young in a pouch like other marsupials. It has a small range in northwestern New Guinea and is threatened by habitat loss and hunting. Other common names for this species include the black tree-kangaroo, the Vogelkop tree-kangaroo and the white-throated tree-kangaroo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black dorcopsis</span> Species of marsupial

The black dorcopsis or black forest wallaby is a species of marsupial in the family Macropodidae. It is endemic to an 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".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black-spotted cuscus</span> Species of marsupial native to New Guinea

The black-spotted cuscus is a species of marsupial in the family Phalangeridae. It is among the largest members of the family, only being surpassed by the bear cuscus. It is a relatively colourful species found in forests of northern New Guinea. It is threatened by hunting and habitat loss, and has already disappeared from large parts of its range. Consequently, it is rated as Critically Endangered by IUCN.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Calaby's pademelon</span> Species of marsupial

Calaby's pademelon, also known as the alpine wallaby, is a species of marsupial in the family Macropodidae. It is endemic to Papua New Guinea. It is threatened by habitat loss and hunting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seri's tree-kangaroo</span> Species of mammal

Seri's tree-kangaroo is a species of tree-kangaroo native and endemic to montane forests of west-central New Guinea. Seri's tree-kangaroo was originally considered to be a subspecies of Dendrolagus dorianus, but was elevated to species in 2005 by Groves.

<i>Dendrolagus notatus</i> Species of marsupial mammal

Dendrolagus notatus, the ifola or ifola tree kangaroo, is a species of marsupial in the family Macropodidae. It is endemic to Papua New Guinea where it is found in high elevations of the central mountains. It is threatened by habitat loss and hunting for food with dogs by local people. The species is usually considered a subspecies of Dendrolagus dorianus but has recently been considered as a separate species by Helgen in 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wondiwoi tree-kangaroo</span> Species of marsupial

The Wondiwoi tree-kangaroo is a critically endangered, bear-like mammal native to tropical mountain forests on the island of New Guinea in Western Papua. Elusive and rare, it was considered extinct until rediscovery in 2018. It is a species of tree-kangaroo, a group of long-tailed, bear-like animals native to Australia and New Guinea that mostly live in trees and feed on plant matter. Tree-kangaroos belong to the macropod family (Macropodidae) with kangaroos, and carry their young in a pouch like most other marsupials. The Wondiwoi tree-kangaroo is likely threatened by hunting, and is known only from remote mountains on the Wondiwoi Peninsula in northwest New Guinea.

References

  1. Groves, C. P. (2005). Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 59. ISBN   0-801-88221-4. OCLC   62265494.
  2. Leary, T.; Seri, L.; Flannery, T.; Wright, D.; Hamilton, S.; Helgen, K.; Singadan, R.; Menzies, J.; Allison, A.; James, R. (2016). "Dendrolagus dorianus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T6427A21957392. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T6427A21957392.en . Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  3. "Doria's Tree Kangaroo". Tenkile Conservation Alliance. Archived from the original on 2007-08-30. Retrieved 2007-02-24.
  4. 1 2 "Doria's Tree-kangaroo". PapuaWeb. Archived from the original on 2006-09-11. Retrieved 2007-02-24.
  5. 1 2 3 Burnie, David; Wilson, Don E., eds. (2005-09-19). Animal: The Definitive Visual Guide to the World's Wildlife (1st paperback ed.). Dorling Kindersley. p. 101. ISBN   0-7566-1634-4.