The striped possum or common striped possum (Dactylopsila trivirgata) is a member of the marsupial family Petauridae.[2] It is found mainly in New Guinea. The species is black with three white stripes running head to tail, and its head has white stripes that form a 'Y' shape. It is closely related to the sugar glider, and is similar in appearance.
Striped Possum, illustrated by Joseph Wolf, Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1858.
The striped possum was first described by John Edward Gray in 1858 from a specimen sent from the Aru Islands (in Indonesia) to the British Museum by Alfred Russel Wallace.[3] Gray gave the species the name Dactylopsila trivirgata in 1858,[4] the name the species retains today. The illustration that appeared alongside the first description was produced by Joseph Wolf.
Rangeedit
The striped possum is most commonly found in New Guinea[2] as well as several other small islands in the area (including the Solomon Islands). It also lives in Queensland, Australia, in rainforests and eucalypt woodland along the east coast of Cape York Peninsula and as far south as Townsville, but is uncommon and rarely seen in Australia.[5]
This possum looks like a black and white squirrel. It is solitary, mostly nocturnal, arboreal, and builds nests in tree branches.[6] The body length is approx. 263 mm long, tail 325 mm, and weight 423 g.[7] The striped possum's tail is prehensile.[2] Its fourth finger is elongated relative to the others (like the third finger of the aye-aye, a lemur found in Malagasy rainforests) and is used to take beetles and caterpillars from tree bark,[8] making it a "mammalian woodpecker".[9] Its main diet consists of wood-boring insect larvae, which are extracted from rotten branches probing with its elongated fourth finger and its powerful incisor teeth which are used to rip open tree bark to expose insects. It detects the larvae by a rapid drumming along branches with the toes of its forefoot.[5] The fourth finger has an unusual hooked nail which it uses to extract insects out of cracks.[10] The striped possum also eats leaves, fruits, and small vertebrates.[2]
It emits a "very powerful unpleasant smell."[10] It is noisy and growls. During the day it curls up on an exposed branch and sleeps.[11]
The female striped possum has two teats in her pouch and can give birth to up to two young.[2] However, not a lot is known of its breeding habits.
It is most easily found by the sound it makes chewing and drinking in the forest. The striped possum is one of the least known marsupials. The species is not considered to be threatened.
Footnotesedit
^Salas, L.; Dickman, C.; Helgen, K.; Burnett, S.; Martin, R. (2016). "Dactylopsila trivirgata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T6226A21960093. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T6226A21960093.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
^ abcdeMcKay, G. (Ed.). (1999). Mammals (p. 60). San Francisco: Weldon Owen Inc. ISBN1-875137-59-9
^Gray, John Edward (1858). "List of species of Mammalia sent from the Aru Islands by Mr A.R. Wallace to the British Museum". Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. 26: 106–113. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1858.tb06350.x – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
^Groves, C. P. (2005). "Order Diprotodontia". In Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 54. ISBN978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
^Rawlins, D. R.; Handasyde, K. A. (2002). "The feeding ecology of the striped possum Dactylopsila trivirgata (Marsupialia: Petauridae) in far north Queensland, Australia". J. Zool. Lond. 257 (2). Zoological Society of London: 195–206. doi:10.1017/S0952836902000808. Retrieved 2010-04-09.
Drury, Susan (1981) Native Animals of Australia. Macmillan Pocket Guide. Macmillan Company of Australia, Melbourne, Victoria. ISBN0-333-33755-7.
Marlow, Basil (1981). Marsupials of Australia. Amended edition. First published in 1962. Hesperian Press, Victoria Park, Western Australia.
Ryan, Michelle and Chris Burwell, editors (2000). Wildlife of Tropical North Queensland. Queensland Museum, Brisbane. ISBN0-7242-9349-3.
Briggs, Mike; Briggs, Peggy (2004). The Encyclopedia of World Wildlife. Paragon. ISBN1-4054-3679-4.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Striped possum.
Wikispecies has information related to Striped possum.
animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu
April 08, 2024
striped, possum, striped, possum, common, striped, possum, dactylopsila, trivirgata, member, marsupial, family, petauridae, found, mainly, guinea, species, black, with, three, white, stripes, running, head, tail, head, white, stripes, that, form, shape, closel. The striped possum or common striped possum Dactylopsila trivirgata is a member of the marsupial family Petauridae 2 It is found mainly in New Guinea The species is black with three white stripes running head to tail and its head has white stripes that form a Y shape It is closely related to the sugar glider and is similar in appearance Striped possumAt Cooktown QueenslandConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass MammaliaInfraclass MarsupialiaOrder DiprotodontiaFamily PetauridaeGenus DactylopsilaSpecies D trivirgataBinomial nameDactylopsila trivirgataJ E Gray 1858Distribution of the striped possum Contents 1 Taxonomy 2 Range 3 Description 4 Footnotes 5 References 6 External linksTaxonomy edit nbsp Striped Possum illustrated by Joseph Wolf Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1858 The striped possum was first described by John Edward Gray in 1858 from a specimen sent from the Aru Islands in Indonesia to the British Museum by Alfred Russel Wallace 3 Gray gave the species the name Dactylopsila trivirgata in 1858 4 the name the species retains today The illustration that appeared alongside the first description was produced by Joseph Wolf Range editThe striped possum is most commonly found in New Guinea 2 as well as several other small islands in the area including the Solomon Islands It also lives in Queensland Australia in rainforests and eucalypt woodland along the east coast of Cape York Peninsula and as far south as Townsville but is uncommon and rarely seen in Australia 5 Description edit nbsp In Crater Lakes National Park Queensland AustraliaThis possum looks like a black and white squirrel It is solitary mostly nocturnal arboreal and builds nests in tree branches 6 The body length is approx 263 mm long tail 325 mm and weight 423 g 7 The striped possum s tail is prehensile 2 Its fourth finger is elongated relative to the others like the third finger of the aye aye a lemur found in Malagasy rainforests and is used to take beetles and caterpillars from tree bark 8 making it a mammalian woodpecker 9 Its main diet consists of wood boring insect larvae which are extracted from rotten branches probing with its elongated fourth finger and its powerful incisor teeth which are used to rip open tree bark to expose insects It detects the larvae by a rapid drumming along branches with the toes of its forefoot 5 The fourth finger has an unusual hooked nail which it uses to extract insects out of cracks 10 The striped possum also eats leaves fruits and small vertebrates 2 It emits a very powerful unpleasant smell 10 It is noisy and growls During the day it curls up on an exposed branch and sleeps 11 The female striped possum has two teats in her pouch and can give birth to up to two young 2 However not a lot is known of its breeding habits It is most easily found by the sound it makes chewing and drinking in the forest The striped possum is one of the least known marsupials The species is not considered to be threatened Footnotes edit Salas L Dickman C Helgen K Burnett S Martin R 2016 Dactylopsila trivirgata IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016 e T6226A21960093 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2016 2 RLTS T6226A21960093 en Retrieved 19 November 2021 a b c d e McKay G Ed 1999 Mammals p 60 San Francisco Weldon Owen Inc ISBN 1 875137 59 9 Gray John Edward 1858 List of species of Mammalia sent from the Aru Islands by Mr A R Wallace to the British Museum Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 26 106 113 doi 10 1111 j 1469 7998 1858 tb06350 x via Biodiversity Heritage Library Groves C P 2005 Order Diprotodontia In Wilson D E Reeder D M eds Mammal Species of the World A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference 3rd ed Johns Hopkins University Press p 54 ISBN 978 0 8018 8221 0 OCLC 62265494 a b Marlow 1981 p 80 Marlow 1981 p 80 Ryan and Burwell 20000 p 339 Rawlins D R Handasyde K A 2002 The feeding ecology of the striped possum Dactylopsila trivirgata Marsupialia Petauridae in far north Queensland Australia J Zool Lond 257 2 Zoological Society of London 195 206 doi 10 1017 S0952836902000808 Retrieved 2010 04 09 Beck R M D 2009 Was the Oligo Miocene Australian metatherian Yalkaparidon a mammalian woodpecker Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 97 The Linnean Society of London 1 17 doi 10 1111 j 1095 8312 2009 01171 x a b Drury 1981 p 71 Ryan and Burwell 2000 p 339 References editDrury Susan 1981 Native Animals of Australia Macmillan Pocket Guide Macmillan Company of Australia Melbourne Victoria ISBN 0 333 33755 7 Marlow Basil 1981 Marsupials of Australia Amended edition First published in 1962 Hesperian Press Victoria Park Western Australia Ryan Michelle and Chris Burwell editors 2000 Wildlife of Tropical North Queensland Queensland Museum Brisbane ISBN 0 7242 9349 3 Briggs Mike Briggs Peggy 2004 The Encyclopedia of World Wildlife Paragon ISBN 1 4054 3679 4 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Striped possum nbsp Wikispecies has information related to Striped possum rainforest australia com striped possum htm animaldiversity ummz umich edu Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Striped possum amp oldid 1211283028, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
