Animal Encyclopedia:
Pygmy ringtail
Pseudochirulus mayeri
TAXONOMY
Pseudochirulus mayeri (Rothschild and Dollman, 1932), Irian Jaya, Indonesia.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
French: Ringtail mineur; German: Zwergringbeutler.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Length 13.4–15.0 in (34–38 cm), weight 3.7–7.3 oz (105–206 g).
DISTRIBUTION
Central Cordillera of New Guinea, at higher than 4,920 ft (1,500 m).
HABITAT
Moss forests, most abundant at 6,560 ft (2,000 m) and above.
BEHAVIOR
Nocturnal, during the day they seem to be partly torpid, as they are rather sluggish and timid when caught.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Possibly too small to be an effective folivore; local people report it eats moss and lichen. Captive individual refused leaves, but took sugar water.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Nothing is known, except one young is seen at a time.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not threatened.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
None known.
| Common name / Scientific name | Physical characteristics | Habitat and behavior | Distribution | Diet | Conservation status |
| Weyland ringtail Pseudocheirus caroli | Fur is dense, soft, and woolly. Upperparts gray or brown, often very dark, underparts are white, yellowish, or almost as dark as back. Mottlings of white and black ventral surface may exist. Tail is usually curled into a ring at the end. Head and body length 6.4–12.6 in (16.3–32 cm), tail length 6.7–15.8 in (17–40 cm). | Rainforest, sclerophyll forest, woodland, or brush. Scansorial, nocturnal, movement is slow and quiet. | West-central New Guinea. | Variety of leaves, fruits, flowers, bark, and sap. | Not threatened |
| Moss-forest ringtail Pseudocheirus forbesi | Fur is dense, soft, and woolly. Upperparts gray or brown, often very dark, underparts are white, yellowish, or almost as dark as back. Mottlings of white and black ventral surface may exist. Tail is usually curled into a ring at the end. Head and body length 6.4–12.6 in (16.3–32 cm), tail length 6.7–15.8 in (17–40 cm). | Rainforest, sclerophyll forest, woodland, or brush. Scansorial, nocturnal, movement is slow and quiet. | Interior eastern New Guinea. | Variety of leaves, fruits, flowers, bark, and sap. | Not threatened |
| Arfak ringtail Pseudocheirus schlegeli | Facial mask of orange, black, and white fur. Upperparts gray or brown, often very dark, underparts are white, yellowish, or almost as dark as back. Mottlings of white and black ventral surface may exist. Tail is usually curled into a ring at the end. Head and body length 6.4–12.6 in (16.3–32 cm), tail length 6.7–15.8 in (17–40 cm). | Mid-montane forests of New Guinea, between 1,640 and 9,190 ft (500–2,800 m). Scansorial, nocturnal, movement is slow and quiet. | Extreme northwestern New Guinea. | Consists mainly of leaves. | Not threatened |
| d'Albertis's ringtail Pseudochirops albertisii | Fur is dense, soft, and woolly. Upperparts gray or brown, often very dark, underparts are white, yellowish, or almost as dark as back. Mottlings of white and black ventral surface may exist. Tail is usually curled into a ring at the end. Head and body length 12.6–18 in (32–46 cm), tail length 6.7–15.8 in (17–40 cm). | Rainforest, sclerophyll forest, woodland, or brush. Scansorial, nocturnal, movement is slow and quiet. | Northern and western New Guinea, including Yapen Islands (Indonesia). | Variety of leaves, fruits, flowers, bark, and sap. | Vulnerable |
| Common name / Scientific name | Physical characteristics | Habitat and behavior | Distribution | Diet | Conservation status |
| Golden ringtail Pseudochirops corinnae | Upperparts gray or brown, often very dark, underparts are white, yellowish, or almost as dark as back. Mottlings of white and black ventral surface may exist. Tail is usually curled into a ring at the end. Head and body length 12.6–15.8 in (32–46 cm), tail length 6.7–15.8 in (17–40 cm). | Rainforest, sclerophyll forest, woodland, or brush. Scansorial, nocturnal, movement is slow and quiet. | Interior New Guinea. | Variety of leaves, fruits, flowers, bark, and sap. | Vulnerable |
| Coppery ringtail Pseudochirops cupreus | Upperparts gray or brown, often very dark, underparts are white, yellowish, or almost as dark as back. Mottlings of white and black ventral surface may exist. Tail is usually curled into a ring at the end. Head and body length 12.6–15.8 in (32–46 cm), tail length 6.7–15.8 in (17–40 cm). Observed female weight 3 lb (1.4 kg). | Rainforest, sclerophyll forest, woodland, or brush. Scansorial, nocturnal, movement is slow and quiet. | Interior New Guinea. | Variety of leaves, fruits, flowers, bark, and sap. | Not threatened |
