Ground cuscus

Ground Cuscus
Ground Cuscus at Cotswold Wildlife Park
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Diprotodontia
Family:	Phalangeridae
Genus:	Phalanger
Species:	P. gymnotis
Binomial name
Phalanger gymnotis (Peters & Doria, 1875)

The Ground Cuscus (Phalanger gymnotis) is a marsupial from the order Diprotodontia and belongs within the family Phalangeridae, a diverse family consisting of the other cuscus species and the brushtail possums (Trichosurus spp) and the Scaly-tailed Possum (Wyulda squamicaudata).

Body weight of the Ground Cuscus averages at around 2.5 – 3kg. Head and body length is approximately 440mm and tail length 330mm although wild populations show variation depending on their location, with individuals from lowland regions being the largest and highland animals the smallest. It has opposable thumbs on the hind feet, a prehensile tail, and a bifurcation between the second and third front digits to allow it to move easily within the trees and to feed in a suspensory position.

The pelage is short and dense and is usually some shade of grey, often with white markings on the belly and scrotum. The tail has a course, tubercle-like appearance at the base and on the dorsal side, with a ridged fingertip patterning on the underside to facilitate gripping. The feet are large with five digits, only the opposable digit on the hind feet is without claws. The ears of the Ground Cuscus are prominent and naked. The pouch is forward opening and contains four mammae.

Cuscuses are generally arboreal folivore/frugivores and are slow moving and nocturnal, although hunters in New Guinea have observed them sunning themselves outside their burrows in the early morning. The tendency to nest in burrows makes this species vulnerable to hunting with dogs. The Ground Cuscus differs from all other phalangerids in spending its days in burrows in the ground and appears as comfortable at ground level as in the trees. Captive specimens are often described as being mainly arboreal, whereas wild Ground Cuscus are generally described as a terrestrial species. Regarded as a solitary species, the Ground Cuscus fights by adopting a bipedal stance and lashing out with the forelimbs whilst emitting hissing and barking vocalisations. In captivity, compatible pairs can be housed together but periodic fighting may still occur.

No information on longevity in the wild is available. A captive specimen was known to live for 18 years with 10 years not uncommon.

The Ground Cuscus is endemic to New Guinea and Aru Island and inhabits both forests and scrubland. It is most common at elevations of between 500 – 1500m but has been recorded as low as 200m and as high as 2600m. Swampy areas, deltas and floodplains are usually avoided. The Ground Cuscus is classified as data deficient on the IUCN Red List and population trends are unknown.