Kuskus Marsupial Mammals

Couscous is one of the marsupial mammals that exist in Indonesia. Like the kangaroo, possum females giving birth was to take care and bring her in the bag that contained in his stomach.

Couscous is often considered to be the same animal with the lemurs, but they are different. The main characteristic kus-kus besides stomach pouch is contained in a round face shape with small ears and thick fur.

Additionally fitch has a long and strong tail that serves as a tool to hold on as it passes from one branch to another. Tailed possum is also a defensive weapon by tying his tail firmly on the trunk or branch of a tree.

Couscous is a herbivorous animal with a main meal of leaves and fruits. Creatures is a very quiet life in solitary. Couscous is a spreading australis animals confined in eastern Indonesia (Sulawesi, Maluku, Papua), Australia and Papua New Guinea.

The biggest fitch fitch bear (Ailurops ursinus) long body reaches 1 meter more. While this type of couscous is kus-kus smallest dwarf who has a body length of only 29-38 cm with a weight of only 1 kg.

Besides regarded as the same species of lemurs, people often think of couscous as a species. Though couscous consists of several species of the genus are grouped in 5 ie Ailurops, Phalanger, Spilocuscus, Strigocuscus, and Trichosurus.

Kind Kuskus type. Fitch genus of 5, 4 ​​genera found in Indonesia, namely Ailurops, Phalanger, Spilocuscus and Strigocuscus. Some species types possum found in Indonesia, among others:

• Bear cuscus (Ailurops ursinus); Kuskus which in English is called Cuscus Bear, Bear Phalanger, or Sulawesi Bear Cuscus there are on the island of Sulawesi, the island Butung, Peleng Island, Togian island, Indonesia. Biggest possum with a body length of over 1 meter is categorized by IUCN Redlist the conservation status of "Vulnerable" (Vulnerable).

• Gebe cuscus (Phalanger alexandrae); Kuskus Gebe is endemic to the island, a small island in Central Halmahera, Maluku, Indonesia) and were only discovered in 1995. Conservation status of "Endangered" (Endangered).

• Fitch mountain or mountain cuscus (Phalanger carmelitae); There in Papua (Indonesia and Papua New Guinea). Conservation status of "Least Concern" (low risk).

• Soil or ground cuscus cuscus (Phalanger gymnotis); There in Papua (Indonesia and Papua New Guinea). Conservation status of "Least Concern".

• Fitch matabiru or Blue-eyed Cuscus (Phalanger matabiru); possum species is endemic to the island of Ternate and Tidore, Maluku. Fitch newly identified in 1995 is the conservation status of "Vulnerable".

• Fitch australia or Southern Common Cuscus (Phalanger mimicus), has a wide distribution covering Australia, Indonesia (Papua) and Papua New Guinea. Conservation status: "Least Concern".

• Northern Common Cuscus (Phalanger orientalis); Kuskus also called Common Phalanger Grey Cuscus and is found in Indonesia (island of Timor, Wetar, Leti, Ambon, Buru, Seram and several other islands in the Moluccas), Timor Leste, Papua New Guinea, and Kep. Solomon. Conservation status: "Least Concern".

• Cuscus or Moluccan Cuscus Ornate (Phalanger ornatus); There on the island of Halmahera, Bacan, and Morotai. Conservation status of "Least Concern".

• Fitch or Obi Obi island Cuscus (Phalanger rothschildi); There Obi island and could, Maluku. Conservation status of "Least Concern".

• Silky Cuscus (Phalanger sericeus); There on the island of New Guinea (Indonesia and Papua New Guinea). Possum living at altitudes between 1500-3600 meters above sea level is the conservation status of "Least Concern".

• Stein's Cuscus (Phalanger vestitus); animals are found on the island of Papua (Indonesia and Papua New Guinea). Possum living at altitudes between 1200-2200 meters above sea level is the conservation status of "Least Concern".

• Common Spotted Cuscus (Spilocuscus maculatus); There in Indonesia (Maluku, Yapen island, kep. Aru, Papua), Australia, and Papua New Guinea. Conservation status of "Least Concern".

• Fitch (Strigocuscus celebensis); Kuskus also called Sulawesi Cuscus Small, Little Celebes Cuscus, Small Cuscus is contained in the smallest possum Sulawesi and surrounding islands such as Sangihe and Siau. Conservation status of "Vulnerable".

 Other possum species:

•  Eastern Common Cuscus (P. intercastellanus), Papua New Guinea.

•  Woodlark Cuscus (P. lullulae), Papua New Guinea.

•  Telefomin Cuscus (Phalanger matanim), Papua New Guinea.

•  Short-eared Brushtail Possum (Trichosurus caninus); Australia.

•  Common Brushtail Possum (T. Vulpecula); Australia.