Pseudochirulus canescens

• Main Authors: Russell A. Mittermeier, Don E. Wilson
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: unknown
• Published: Lynx Edicions 2015
• Subjects: Biodiversity; Taxonomy; Animalia; Chordata; Mammalia; Diprotodontia; Pseudocheiridae; Pseudochirulus; Pseudochirulus canescens; Triton Bay
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6621323; http://treatment.plazi.org/id/9A5ECE234D2F386EFF826155FBF7E1E8

5. Lowland Ring-tailed Possum Pseudochirulus canescens French: Possum cendré / German: Hundsringbeutler / Spanish: Falangero de cola anillada de tierras bajas Other common names: Lowland Ringtall Taxonomy. Phalangista (Pseudochirus) canescens Waterhouse, 1846, Triton Bay, Fakfak Division, Prov. of Papua (= Irian Jaya), Indonesia. This species seems to be polytypic, and up to five subspecies have been named; it is poorly known and needs a taxonomic revision. Monotypic. Distribution. New Guinea, widespread throughout lowlands from the Bird's Head (= Vogelkop) Peninsula in W to Milne Bay Province in E, also present on Salawati and Yapen Is. Descriptive notes. Head-body 20-23 cm, tail 17-20 cm; weight 235-380 g. The Lowland Ring-tailed Possum has a large black ear patch and black dorsalstripe. It occurs in two color morphs: rich red and gray. The Lowland Ring-tailed Possum and the Pygmy Ring-tailed Possum (FP. mayeri) are the smallest species of pseudocheirids. Habitat. Secondary forest from sea level on the north coast to elevations of 1300 m in the Gulf and Western provinces of Papua New Guinea. Also appears to be common in hill zone forests of the upper Sepik River Basin. The Lowland Ring-tailed Possum is widespread but rare throughout its distribution. Food and Feeding. Little is known about diets of Lowland Ring-tailed Possums, but stomach contents have included mosses, ferns, lichens, and leaves. Breeding. [Lowland Ring-tailed Possums typically produce a single pouch young, although litters of three have been recorded. Pouch young have been observed in October, November, and February. Activity patterns. There is no information available for this species other than it being nocturnal. Movements, Home range and Social organization. There is no specific information available for this species, but individuals have been taken from a tree hollow and the top of a tree fern. Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Lowland Ring-tailed Possum is known to be widespread throughout ...