Tree-kangaroo

Tree-kangaroo
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Tree-kangaroos[1]


Buergers' Tree-kangaroo, Dendrolagus goodfellowi buergersi
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Mammalia

Infraclass: Marsupialia

Order: Diprotodontia

Family: Macropodidae

Subfamily: Macropodinae

Genus: Dendrolagus
Müller, 1840

Type species
Dendrolagus ursinus
Müller, 1840
Species
about 12; see text.

Tree-kangaroos are macropods adapted for life in trees. They are found in the rainforests of New Guinea, far northeastern Queensland, and nearby islands, usually in mountainous areas. Although most are found in mountainous areas, several species also occur in lowlands, such as the aptly named Lowlands Tree-kangaroo.

Contents [hide]
1 Evolution
2 Anatomy
3 Diet
4 Species
5 See also
6 References
7 External links



[edit] Evolution
It is understood that tree-kangaroos evolved from creatures similar to modern kangaroos and wallabies, as they retain many standard macropod adaptations to life in the plains—notably the massive hind legs and long, narrow feet which allow orthodox macropods to travel fast and economically on the ground. Tree-kangaroos have developed exceptionally long tails for balance, and stronger forelimbs for climbing. The feet are shorter and wider, they have longer claws on all feet, and rubbery soles for better grip.

The ancestors of all kangaroos are believed to have been small arboreal marsupials that looked like some of Australia's present-day possums. The earliest macropods diverged from this line when they descended to the ground and evolved bodies adapted for rapid motion over the earth and rocks. Why the ancestors of the tree-kangaroos returned to the trees is not known.


[edit] Anatomy

Back and tail of a Buergers' Tree-kangaroo (D. g. buergersi)Tree-kangaroos are slow and clumsy on the ground. They move at about walking pace and hop awkwardly, leaning their body far forward to balance the heavy tail. But 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 the forelimbs to slide. They are expert leapers; 9-metre (29.5 feet) downward jumps from one tree to another have been recorded, and they have the extraordinary ability to jump to the ground from 18 metres (59.0 feet) or more without being hurt.

[edit] Diet
Tree-kangaroos feed mostly on leaves and fruit, taken both in trees and on the ground, but other foods are eaten when available, including grain, flowers, sap, bark, eggs and young birds. Their teeth are adapted for tearing leaves rather than cutting grass. They have large stomachs that function as fermentation vats in a manner similar to those of eutherian ruminant herbivores, in which bacteria break down fibrous leaves and grasses. Although the arrangement of the stomach compartments in kangaroos is quite different than eutherian ruminants, the end result is similar.


[edit] Species
The following species are assigned to the genus Dendrolagus:[1]

Grizzled Tree-kangaroo, Dendrolagus inustus; northern and western New Guinea, plus the island of Yapen, and possibly Salawati and Waigeo.
Lumholtz's Tree-kangaroo, Dendrolagus lumholtzi; Queensland, Australia.
Bennett's Tree-kangaroo, Dendrolagus bennettianus; Queensland, Australia.
Ursine Tree-kangaroo, Dendrolagus ursinus; Vogelkop, New Guinea.
Matschie's Tree-kangaroo, Dendrolagus matschiei; Huon Peninsula, New Guinea.
Doria's Tree-kangaroo, Dendrolagus dorianus; western, central, and southeastern New Guinea.
Seri's Tree-kangaroo, Dendrolagus stellarum; highlands of west-central New Guinea.
Goodfellow's Tree-kangaroo, Dendrolagus goodfellowi; central and southeastern New Guinea.
Golden-mantled Tree-kangaroo, Dendrolagus pulcherrimus; Foja and Torricelli Mountains, New Guinea.
Lowlands Tree-kangaroo, Dendrolagus spadix; south-western lowlands of Papua New Guinea.
Dingiso, Dendrolagus mbaiso; highlands of west-central New Guinea
Tenkile, Dendrolagus scottae; Sandaun Province, New Guinea.

Lumholtz's Tree-kangarooThe taxonomy, especially of the Dendrolagus dorianus and Dendrolagus goodfellowi superspecies, is complex. The taxon stellarum was described as a subspecies of the D. dorianus,[2][3] but some recent authorities have treated it as a species based on its absolute diagnostability.[1] It has further been suggested that the taxon mayri, known only from a single old specimen, may represent a valid species,[4] but as it is virtually unknown, most authorities have retained it as a subspecies of D. dorianus.[1] The case for pulcherrimus is comparable to that of stellarum. It was initially described as a subspecies of Dendrolagus goodfellowi,[2] but recent authorities have elevated it to species status based on its absolute diagnostability.[1] A population of the Tenkile recently discovered from the Bewani Mountains may represent an undescribed subspecies.[5]


[edit] See also
Fauna of Australia
Fauna of New Guinea

[edit] References
^ a b c d e Groves, C. (2005-11-16). Wilson, D. E., and Reeder, D. M. (eds). ed. Mammal Species of the World (3rd edition ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 59-61. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. http://www.bucknell.edu/msw3.
^ a b Flannery, T. 1995. Mammals of New Guinea. Reed Books. ISBN 0 7301 0411 7
^ Nowak, R. (ed) 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World. 6th edition. John Hopkins University Press. ISBN 0-8018-5789-9
^ Wondiwoi Tree Kangaroo Tenkile Conservation Alliance
^ Tenkile Tree Kangaroo Tenkile Conservation Alliance
Flannery, Timothy Fridtjof, et al. 1996. Tree Kangaroos: A Curious Natural History. Reed Books, Melbourne. ISBN 0-7301-0492-3

[edit] External links
Wikispecies has information related to: Dendrolagus
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Dendrolagus
Tree-kangaroo at the Encyclopedia of Life
ARKive - images of the Goodfellow's tree kangaroo (Dendrolagus goodfellowi)
[show]v • d • eExtant Diprotodontia species

Kingdom Animalia · Phylum Chordata · Class Mammalia · Infraclass Marsupialia

[show] Suborder Vombatiformes

Phascolarctidae Phascolarctos Koala (P. cinereus)


Vombatidae
(Wombats) Vombatus Common Wombat (V. ursinus)

Lasiorhinus Southern Hairy-nosed Wombat (L. latifrons) · Northern Hairy-nosed Wombat (L. krefftii)




[show] Suborder Phalangeriformes (Possums) (cont. below)

Phalangeridae
(including Cuscuses) Ailurops
(Bear cuscuses) Talaud Bear Cuscus (A. melanotis) · Sulawesi Bear Cuscus (A. ursinus)

Phalanger Gebe Cuscus (P. alexandrae) · Mountain Cuscus (P. carmelitae) · Ground Cuscus (P. gymnotis) · Eastern Common Cuscus (P. intercastellanus) · Woodlark Cuscus (P. lullulae) · Blue-eyed Cuscus (P. matabiru) · Telefomin Cuscus (P. matanim) · Southern Common Cuscus (P. mimicus) · Northern Common Cuscus (P. orientalis) · Ornate Cuscus (P. ornatus) · Rothschild's Cuscus (P. rothschildi) · Silky Cuscus (P. sericeus) · Stein's Cuscus (P. vestitus)

Spilocuscus Admiralty Island Cuscus (S. kraemeri) · Common Spotted Cuscus (S. maculatus) · Waigeou Cuscus (S. papuensis) · Black-spotted Cuscus (S. rufoniger) · Blue-eyed Spotted Cuscus (S. wilsoni)

Strigocuscus Sulawesi Dwarf Cuscus (S. celebensis) · Banggai Cuscus (S. pelegensis)

Trichosurus
(Brushtail possums) Northern Brushtail Possum (T. arnhemensis) · Short-eared Possum (T. caninus) · Mountain Brushtail Possum (T. cunninghami) · Coppery Brushtail Possum (T. johnstonii) · Common Brushtail Possum (T. vulpecula)

Wyulda Scaly-tailed Possum (W. squamicaudata)


Burramyidae
(Pygmy possums) Burramys Mountain Pygmy Possum (B. parvus)

Cercartetus Long-tailed Pygmy Possum (C. caudatus) · Southwestern Pygmy Possum (C. concinnus) · Tasmanian Pygmy Possum (C. lepidus) · Eastern Pygmy Possum (C. nanus)




[show] Suborder Phalangeriformes (Possums) (cont. above)

Tarsipedidae Tarsipes Honey Possum (T. rostratus)


Petauridae Dactylopsila Great-tailed Triok (D. megalura) · Long-fingered Triok (D. palpator) · Tate's Triok (D. tatei) · Striped Possum (D. trivirgata)

Gymnobelideus Leadbeater's Possum (G. leadbeateri)

Petaurus Northern Glider (P. abidi) · Yellow-bellied Glider (P. australis) · Biak Glider (P. biacensis) · Sugar Glider (P. breviceps) · Mahogany Glider (P. gracilis) · Squirrel Glider (P. norfolcensis)


Pseudocheiridae Hemibelideus Lemur-like Ringtail Possum (H. lemuroides)

Petauroides Greater Glider (P. volans)

Petropseudes Rock-haunting Ringtail Possum (P. dahli)

Pseudocheirus Common Ringtail Possum (P. peregrinus)

Pseudochirulus Lowland Ringtail Possum (P. canescens) · Weyland Ringtail Possum (P. caroli) · Cinereus Ringtail Possum (P. cinereus) · Painted Ringtail Possum (P. forbesi) · Herbert River Ringtail Possum (P. herbertensis) · Masked Ringtail Possum (P. larvatus) · Pygmy Ringtail Possum (P. mayeri) · Vogelkop Ringtail Possum (P. schlegeli)

Pseudochirops D'Albertis' Ringtail Possum (P. albertisii) · Green Ringtail Possum (P. archeri) · Plush-coated Ringtail Possum (P. corinnae) · Reclusive Ringtail Possum (P. coronatus) · Coppery Ringtail Possum (P. cupreus)


Acrobatidae Acrobates Feathertail Glider (A. pygmaeus)

Distoechurus Feather-tailed Possum (D. pennatus)




[hide] Suborder Macropodiformes (cont. below)

Macropodidae
(includes Wallabies) Lagostrophus Banded Hare-wallaby (L. fasciatus)

Dendrolagus
(Tree-kangaroos) Grizzled Tree-kangaroo (D. inustus) · Lumholtz's Tree-kangaroo (D. lumholtzi) · Bennett's Tree-kangaroo (D. bennettianus) · Ursine Tree-kangaroo (D. ursinus) · Matschie's Tree-kangaroo (D. matschiei) · Doria's Tree-kangaroo (D. dorianus) · Goodfellow's Tree-kangaroo (D. goodfellowi) · Lowlands Tree-kangaroo (D. spadix) · Golden-mantled Tree-kangaroo (D. pulcherrimus) · Seri's Tree-kangaroo (D. stellarum) · Dingiso (D. mbaiso) · Tenkile (D. scottae)

Dorcopsis Brown Dorcopsis (D. muelleri) · White-striped Dorcopsis (D. hageni) · Black Dorcopsis (D. atrata) · Gray Dorcopsis (D. luctuosa)

Dorcopsulus Small Dorcopsis (D. vanheurni) · Macleay's Dorcopsis (D. macleayi)

Lagorchestes Spectacled Hare-wallaby (L. conspicillatus) · Rufous Hare-wallaby (L. hirsutus)

Macropus
(includes Kangaroos
and Wallaroos) Subgenus Notamacropus: Agile Wallaby (M. agilis) · Black-striped Wallaby (M. dorsalis) · Tammar Wallaby (M. eugenii) · Western Brush Wallaby (M. irma) · Parma Wallaby (M. parma) · Pretty-faced Wallaby (M. parryi) · Red-necked Wallaby (M. rufogriseus)
Subgenus Osphranter: Antilopine Kangaroo (M. antilopinus) · Woodward's Wallaroo (M. bernadus) · Eastern Wallaroo (M. robustus) · Red Kangaroo (M. rufus)
Subgenus Macropus: Western Grey Kangaroo (M. fuliginosus) · Eastern Grey Kangaroo (M. giganteus)

Onychogalea
(Nail-tail wallabies) Bridled Nail-tail Wallaby (O. fraenata) · Northern Nail-tail Wallaby (O. unguifera)

Petrogale
(Rock-wallabies) P. brachyotis species-group: Short-eared Rock-wallaby (P. brachyotis) · Monjon (P. burbidgei) · Nabarlek (P. concinna)
P. xanthopus species-group: Proserpine Rock-wallaby (P. persephone) · Rothschild's Rock-wallaby (P. rothschildi) · Yellow-footed Rock-wallaby (P. xanthopus)
P. lateralis/penicillata species-group: Allied Rock-wallaby (P. assimilis) · Cape York Rock-wallaby (P. coenensis) · Godman's Rock-wallaby (P. godmani) · Herbert's Rock-wallaby (P. herberti) · Unadorned Rock-wallaby (P. inornata) · Black-flanked Rock-wallaby (P. lateralis) · Mareeba Rock-wallaby (P. mareeba) · Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby (P. penicillata) · Purple-necked Rock-wallaby (P. purpureicollis) · Mt. Claro Rock-wallaby (P. sharmani)

Setonix Quokka (S. brachyurus)

Thylogale
(Pademelons) Tasmanian Pademelon (T. billardierii) · Brown's Pademelon (T. browni) · Dusky Pademelon (T. brunii) · Calaby's Pademelon (T. calabyi) · Mountain Pademelon (T. lanatus) · Red-legged Pademelon (T. stigmatica) · Red-necked Pademelon (T. thetis)

Wallabia Swamp Wallaby (W. bicolor)




[show] Suborder Macropodiformes (cont. above)

Potoroidae Aepyprymnus Rufous Rat-kangaroo (A. rufescens)

Bettongia
(Bettongs) Eastern Bettong (B. gaimardi) · Boodie (B. lesueur) · Woylie (B. penicillata) · Northern Bettong (B. tropica)

Potorous
(Potoroos) Long-footed Potoroo (P. longipes) · Long-nosed Potoroo (P. tridactylus) · Gilbert's Potoroo (. gilbertii)


Hypsiprymnodontidae Hypsiprymnodon Musky Rat-kangaroo (H. moschatus)





Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tree-kangaroo"
Categories: Mammals of Queensland | Macropods | Mammals of New Guinea
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