Admiralty Island Cuscus
Encyclopedia
The Admiralty Island Cuscus or Manus Island Spotted Cuscus (Spilocuscus kraemeri) is a species of marsupial
in the Phalangeridae
family. It is endemic to the Admiralty Islands
of Papua New Guinea
. It is the smallest member of the genus Spilocuscus
, and the female has a black back, while the male has blackish spots on a white background. Both genders have rufous
heads.
Marsupial
Marsupials are an infraclass of mammals, characterized by giving birth to relatively undeveloped young. Close to 70% of the 334 extant species occur in Australia, New Guinea, and nearby islands, with the remaining 100 found in the Americas, primarily in South America, but with thirteen in Central...
in the Phalangeridae
Phalangeridae
Phalangeridae is a family of nocturnal marsupials native to Australia and New Guinea, including the cuscuses, brushtail possums, and their close relatives...
family. It is endemic to the Admiralty Islands
Admiralty Islands
The Admiralty Islands are a group of eighteen islands in the Bismarck Archipelago, to the north of New Guinea in the south Pacific Ocean. These are also sometimes called the Manus Islands, after the largest island. These rainforest-covered islands form part of Manus Province, the smallest and...
of Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
. It is the smallest member of the genus Spilocuscus
Spilocuscus
Spilocuscus is a genus of marsupial in the family Phalangeridae.It contains the following species:*Admiralty Island Cuscus, Spilocuscus kraemeri*Common Spotted Cuscus, Spilocuscus maculatus*Waigeou Cuscus, Spilocuscus papuensis...
, and the female has a black back, while the male has blackish spots on a white background. Both genders have rufous
Rufous
Rufous is a colour that may be described as reddish-brown or brownish-red, as of rust or oxidised iron.The first recorded use of rufous as a colour name in English was in the year 1782....
heads.