The Cuscus
Phalanger maculatus
The Spotted Cuscus belongs to the Vertebrata phylum,
Mammalia class, Marsupialia order and Phalangeridae family. It is a part of the possum family and is a marsupial. It is a nocturnal mammal found inn tropical forests and mangroves of New Guinea, the tip of Cape York in Australia and the Solomon Islands.
Cuscuses can be as tiny as a mouse or as large as a house cat, about 20 to 40 inches (40 to 80 cm). They normally weigh from 3 to 9 pounds (1½ to 3½ kg). Their have ears that are barely visible. They have thick fur coats that differ in color from white to gray, depending on their age and location. Their eyes can be yellow, orange or red while they normally have yellowish noses. The legs are normally reddish-brown to gray in color.
Cuscuses have tails longer than their bodies which are prehensile, making holding onto branches easy. The tails are curled at the end and, from about half way down the tail to the tip of the tail, there is no hair. Each foot has five toes; four with claws while the inner toe is an opposable clawless toe, much like the human thumb. The combination of their prehensile tail and opposable toe makes them good climbers. They spend most of their time in trees. Their diet ranges from plants to small animals. Some may also feed on nectar and insects.
The Cuscus lives in trees, occupying the same ecological niche as monkeys. Cuscuses resemble sloths in their low activity. They have not only a low body temperature but also a low metabolic rate, which means they are about as active as a lazy house cat!
The spotted Cuscus, being nocturnal, come out only at night. During the day they sleep curled on branches, hollow trees or heavy vegetation. They spend most of their time in a sitting position.
The male Cuscus, like the male tiger, scent marks their territory and guards it ferociously against other encroaching males. The term spotted is incorrect. The males actually has splotches of darker colors on its light colored fur, not spots. The female is usually a solid cream color.
Cuscus breeding occurs throughout the year. Gestation is is very short, at about two weeks. Typically, the female has only one baby which can live up to 11 years. The female may have up to three young because they have four teats in their pouch. The pouch is used to raise the young. When the baby Cuscus is ready to leave the pouch, its mother carries it on her back.
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