Pseudochirops cupreus (Thomas, 1897)

Russell A. Mittermeier & Don E. Wilson, 2015, Pseudocheiridae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 5 Monotremes and Marsupials, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 498-530 : 529-530

20.

Coppery Ring-tailed Possum

Pseudochirops cupreus

French: Possum cuivré / German: KupferRingbeutler / Spanish: Falangero de cola anillada cobrizo

Other common names: Coppery Ringtail, Coppery Ringtail Possum

Taxonomy. Pseudochirus cupreus Thomas, 1897 ,

“ Mount Owen Stanley , British New Guinea [= Papua New Guinea].”

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. New Guinea, in the Central Range from the Paniai (= Wissel) Lakes region in the W to the extreme SE ofthe island.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 36-41 cm, tail 27-31 cm; weight 1.3-2.2 kg. The Coppery Ring-tailed Possum is readily distinguished from other ring-tailed possums by its large size and almost naked distal portion of the tail.

Habitat. Apparently only primary forest, little disturbed by agriculture, at elevations of 500-3996 m, although rare below 2000 m and most common above 2500 m. The Coppery Ring-tailed Possum is common in scrub and herbfield at 3700 m in the Prinz Wilhelm V Ranges in Indonesian New Guinea.

Food and Feeding. The most common plant genera observed in the diet of the Coppery Ring-tailed Possum are Cryptocarya (Lauraceae) , Decaspermum (Myrtaceae) , Garcinia (Clusiaceae) , Ilex (Aquifoliaceae) , Medinilla (Melanostomataceae) , Planchonella (Sapotaceae) , Podocarpus (Podocarpaceae) , Sphenostemon (Paracryphiaceae) , and Syzygium (Myrtaceae) , with unidentified species in the families Cunoniaceae and Myrtaceae also being important. Of the plant species consumed, ¢.85-90% of the diet was leaves, with the remainder of the diet being fruit.

Breeding. Coppery Ring-tailed Possums have a single young, which apparently can be produced in most months of the year suggesting a continuous breeding strategy. Only limited parental investment and den sharing by males have been observed, suggesting that the mating system is facultative polygamy.

Activity patterns. Coppery Ring-tailed Possums are nocturnal, but they have been observed during the day. After emergence from the den, they mostly rest, which has been proposed to provide indirect evidence of coprophagy before leaving the den. During the night, they spend most of their time alone but have occasionally been observed feeding in male-female pairs. About 25-30% of their time is spent eating, 18% spent walking, and 52-57% spent resting. Their behavior appears to be influenced by larger possums, such as the Mountain Cuscus (Phalanger carmelitae), because when this species was observed to enter a tree where Coppery Ring-tailed Possums were feeding, they vacated the tree and then returned and resumed eating when the Mountain Cuscus left. A female Mountain Cuscus has also been observed growling at a male Coppery Ring-tailed Possum. Female Coppery Ring-tailed Possums typically emerge from the sleeping den at 19:03 h, and males emerge shortly thereafter at 19:26 h. Both sexes return to the den at an average time of 05:23 h.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Home ranges of Coppery Ringtailed Possums are estimated at 1-4-2-2 ha, overlapping by 0-3 ha. When not active, they rest in tree hollows and burrows of the Ground Cuscus (Phalanger gymnotis) and De Vis’s Mallomys (Mallomys aroaensis). One study found that most dens were used only once during the study period but others were used 6-10 times. Predators include Boelen’s python ( Morelia boeleni ) and potentially different species of raptors.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Coppery Ring-tailed Possum is susceptible to overhunting by the local people.

Bibliography. Flannery (1994a, 1995a), Helgen, Dickman & Salas (2008e), Hume et al. (1984), Salas (2002).

Figures

13. Western Ring-tailed Possum (Pseudocheirus occidentalis), 14. Eastern Ring-tailed Possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus), 15. Rock Ring-tailed Possum (Petropseudes dahl), 16. D’Albertis’s Ring-tailed Possum (Pseudochirops albertisii), 17. Green Ring-tailed Possum (Pseudochirops archeri), 18. Plush-coated Ring-tailed Possum (Pseudochirops corinnae), 19. Reclusive Ring-tailed Possum (Pseudochirops coronatus), 20. Coppery Ring-tailed Possum (Pseudochirops cupreus)

Distribution. New Guinea, in the Central Range from the Paniai (= Wissel) Lakes region in the W to the extreme SE ofthe island.