Goodfellow's tree-kangaroo

Goodfellow's tree-kangaroo (Dendrolagus goodfellowi) also called the ornate tree-kangaroo, belongs to the family Macropodidae, which includes kangaroos, wallabies and their relatives,[4] and the genus Dendrolagus, with eleven other species.[1] The species is native to the rainforests of New Guinea, and the border of central Irian Jaya in Indonesia.[5] Under the IUCN classification, the species is listed as Endangered,[2] which is a result of overhunting and human encroachment on their habitat.[6] They are named after British zoological collector Walter Goodfellow.[7]

Goodfellow's tree-kangaroo[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Infraclass: Marsupialia
Order: Diprotodontia
Family: Macropodidae
Genus: Dendrolagus
Species:
D. goodfellowi
Binomial name
Dendrolagus goodfellowi
Thomas, 1908[3]
Goodfellow's tree-kangaroo range

Taxonomy

There are two subspecies of the Goodfellow's tree-kangaroo:[1]

Description

Like other tree-kangaroos, Goodfellow's tree-kangaroos are quite different in appearance from terrestrial kangaroos. Unlike their land dwelling cousins, their legs are not disproportionately large in comparison to the forelimbs, which are strong and end in hooked claws for grasping tree limbs, and they have a long tail for balance. All of these features help the species with a predominantly arboreal existence. They have short, woolly fur,[8] usually chestnut to red-brown in colour, grey-brown faces, yellow-coloured cheeks and feet; pale bellies,[9] long, golden brown tails, and two golden stripes on their backsides.[10] They weighs approximately 7 kg (about 15 lb).[5]

Behaviour

Goodfellow's tree-kangaroos are slow and clumsy on the ground, moving at about walking pace and hopping awkwardly, leaning their bodies far forward to balance the heavy tail. However, in trees they are bold and agile. They climb by wrapping the forelimbs around the trunk of a tree and hopping with the powerful hind legs, allowing their forelimbs to slide. They have extraordinary jumping ability and have been known to jump to the ground from heights of 30 feet without harm .[10]

Diet

Although they feeds mainly on the leaves of the Silkwood tree[11] (Flindersia pimenteliana), other morsels are accepted when available, including various fruits, cereals, flowers and grasses.[9] Goodfellow's tree-kangaroos have large stomach that functions as fermentation vats, similar to the stomachs of cattle and other ruminant herbivores, where bacteria break down fibrous leaves and grasses.[12]

See also

References
  1. Groves, C. P. (2005). Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 59–60. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. OCLC 62265494.
  2. Leary, T.; Seri, L.; Wright, D.; Hamilton, S.; Helgen, K.; Singadan, R.; Menzies, J.; Allison, A.; James, R.; Dickman, C.; et al. (2008). "Dendrolagus goodfellowi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2008. Retrieved 28 December 2008.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link) Database entry includes justification for why this species is listed as endangered.
  3. Thomas, Oldfield (1908). "A new Tree-Kangaroo from British New Guinea". The Annals and Magazine of Natural History. Ser. 8. 2 (11): 452–453.
  4. Myers, P. (2001). "Macropodidae". Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved 2006-08-05.
  5. Animal Info (1999-2005). Animal Info - Goodfellow's Tree Kangaroo. Retrieved August 3, 2006.
  6. Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary (2006). Goodfellow's Tree-kangaroo - captive breeding program. Retrieved August 3, 2006.
  7. Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2009-09-28). The Eponym Dictionary of Mammals. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 158–9. ISBN 978-0-8018-9304-9. OCLC 270129903.
  8. Melbourne Zoo (2006). Animal Fact Sheet: Goodfellow's Tree-Kangaroo Archived 2006-08-19 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 3, 2006.
  9. Discovery Communications Inc. (2006). Goodfellow's tree kangaroo. Retrieved August 3, 2006.
  10. World Wildlife Fund (2006). Tree Kangaroos Archived 2006-09-15 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 3, 2006.
  11. "Goodfellow's tree kangaroo". Funk & Wagnalls Wildlife Encyclopedia. 20. New York, N.Y.: Funk and Wagnalls. 1974. p. 2397.
  12. Johnson, S. (1999). "Dendrolagus goodfellowi". Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved 2006-08-03.
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