Feather-tailed possum

Distoechurus pennatus

TAXONOMY

Distoechurus pennatus (Peters, 1874), Irian Jaya, Indonesia.

OTHER COMMON NAMES

French: Possum plumée de Nouvelle Guinée; German: Federschwanzbeutler; Spanish: Opósum de cola plumose.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Head and body length 4–5 in (10–13 cm), tail 5–6 in (12–15 cm) long; fur mainly gray, with black and white facial stripes. No gliding membrane.

DISTRIBUTION

New Guinea.

HABITAT

Disturbed and secondary forest, rainforest, scrubland, and gardens.

BEHAVIOR

Nocturnal, arboreal, solitary most of the year.

FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET

Flowers, fruit, and insects.

REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY

Probably polygynous. One or two young born in spring.

CONSERVATION STATUS

Not threatened; apparently abundant.

SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS

None known.