Perception Channels: tactile ; chemical
CITES: appendix ii
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern
In New Guinea, P. orientalis is hunted for food by native tribes, though this is rare (Flannery, 1995).
Positive Impacts: food
P. orientalis does not have any recorded ecological roles.
P. orientalis climbs slowly through the rainforests and locates mainly leaves, tree seeds, fruit, buds and flowers on which they feed (Girzmek, 1990). It has been spotted eating the green fruit of the Red Cedar (Toona australis) and the buds and flowers of Corky Bark (Carallia brachiata). A paste derived from the seeds of the Black Bean Tree (Castanospermum australe) was found in the stomach of one animal. While in captivity it primarily eats leaves and fruit (Flannery, 1995).
Primary Diet: herbivore (Folivore , Frugivore )
Phalanger orientalis is thought to have originated on New Guinea and then to have been distributed primarily by prehistoric humans to the range it currently occupies (Nowak, 1999). That range now includes the South West Pacific islands of Buru, Seram, the Solomon and Molucca Islands, northern New Guinea, and the Bismark Archipelago (Nowak, 1999) . Until recently, P. orientalis and P. intercastellanus (Southern Common Cuscus) were thought to belong to the same species (Flannery, 1995). P. intercastellanus inhabits northern Australia, the Aru Islands, and the Louisade Archipelago (Strahan, 1995).
Biogeographic Regions: australian (Native ); oceanic islands (Introduced , Native )
P. orientalis is resitricted to tropical rainforests and thick scrub in the South West Pacific (Nowak, 1999). They have also been spotted in gardens, probably due to the high abundance of edible plants (Flannery, 1995).
Range elevation: 0 to 1600 m.
Habitat Regions: tropical
Terrestrial Biomes: rainforest
P. orientalis, like others in the family Phalangeridae, is heavy and powerfully built (Nowak, 1999). The average mass is about 2.1 kg. This is slightly lower in females (Grizmek, 1990).
The tail is prehensile naked at the end. It is covered with horny papillae. The tail length varies from 28 to 42 cm (Grizmek, 1990). The male tail is completely white but female tails are white only on the tips.
In adult males, the thick, wooly fur ranges in color from white to medium or dark grey (Nowak, 1999). In adult females, the color ranges from reddish-brown to brownish-grey. The stomach area is commonly white. The male has a distinct yellowish chest gland. Usually a dark stripe runs from the head to the lower back. The young of this species are reddish-brown. (Flannery, 1995; Nowak, 1999)
The digits are of different lengths and are tipped by long, curved claws. Their paws are syndactylous, with the first and second digits opposable to the rest. The soles of their feet are naked and striated. The female pouch has four mammae (Nowak, 1999). The facial features include large eyes, long canines and a snout longer than that of Spilocuscus maculatus (Spotted Cuscus). The teeth are simple, low crowned and used for grinding (Flannery, 1995).
Range mass: 1.0 to 5.0 kg.
Average mass: 2.1 kg.
Range length: 35 to 55 cm.
Average length: 39 cm.
Other Physical Features: endothermic ; bilateral symmetry
P. orientalis had not been closely studied due to its secluded lifestyle. The following are a few specific predators that have been documented: White-bellied Sea-Eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster) (Heinsohn, 2000), Amethystine (Morelia amethistina)(Flannery, 1995), Carpet Pythons (Morelia s. cheynei)(Flannery, 1995), and possibly Dasyurids (Grizmek, 1990). The assumption is that these and other species like them prey upon P. orientalis.
Known Predators:
The gestation period for P. orientalis lasts around 13 days. Normally the females births twins, but the number of young ranges from one to three (Grizmek, 1990). Usually, one of the twins dies before weaning (Nowak, 1999). The weight at birth is less than 1 gram (Grizmek, 1990).
Normally, the reproductive cycle occurs only once a year. Mating and reproductive seasons are from June through October, though March and November births have been observed (Tyndale-Brisco, 1987).
Because P. orientalis has not been well studied, information on the reproctive behavior is sparse.
Breeding season: June through October
Range number of offspring: 1 to 3.
Average gestation period: 13 days.
Range weaning age: not known (high) days.
Key Reproductive Features: seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; viviparous
Average number of offspring: 2.
Parental Investment: altricial ; female parental care
The northern common cuscus (Phalanger orientalis), 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.[2][4] It was formerly considered conspecific with the allopatric P. intercastellanus and P. mimicus.
It is hunted for human consumption in New Guinea.[5]
It is known as laku ita in the Naueti language[6] or meda in the Tetum Terik Tetum language of Timor-Leste.
The northern common cuscus normally inhabits disturbed habitats. These would include secondary forest, plantations, and gardens. This species is also found in primary tropical forests.[7] While living in the arboreal environments, hunters in the area believe that the tree hollows are the preferred den site of the cuscus.[8] Local villagers reported that the northern common cuscus can be found in any substantially forested areas from coastal monsoon rainforest and gallery forest to the remnant montane rainforest.[9]
The Northern common cuscus inhabits the islands of Timor, specifically Indonesia and Timor-Leste, Wetar and Leti (both to Indonesia) through the Kai Islands and a number of the Moluccan Islands of Indonesia (including Ambon, Buru, and Seram); it is also found on the islands of Misool, Waigeo, Batanta, and Salawati (all Indonesia), and ranges over much of the northern part of the island of New Guinea (Indonesia and Papua New Guinea), including a number of offshore islands.[7] It ranges as far east as the Bismarck Archipelago, Papua New Guinea, where it is present on many islands including the islands of New Britain and New Ireland. It also occurs on many of the Solomon Islands.[7] It is believed that many of the insular island populations are the result of prehistorical introductions, possibly including Timor, Seram, Buru, Sanana, the Kai Islands, the Bismarck Archipelago, and the Solomon Island chain.[7] The northern common cuscus was introduced into New Ireland between 10,000 and 20,000 years ago, and into the Solomon Islands after 6,000 years ago; in Biak Island and Supiori Island, it is also an introduced species.[4]
Generally, its niche is thought to be that of a nocturnal arboreal folivore with frugivorous tendencies.[10] [11] [12]
The northern common cuscus (Phalanger orientalis), 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.
It is hunted for human consumption in New Guinea.
