Bear couscous ( Latin Ailurops ursinus ) is a representative of the genus Ailurops of the Couscous family ( Phalangeridae ). Endemic to Sulawesi and nearby islands in Indonesia. Its natural habitat is a subtropical or tropical dry forest from sea level to more than 600 meters above sea level [1] .
Bear Couscous | ||||||||||||||
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| Ailurops ursinus Temminck , 1824 | ||||||||||||||
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The body length is about 56 cm, the tail length is about 54 cm, and the weight is up to 7 kg [2] . The muzzle is short, the ears are small fluffy. The fur, consisting of soft undercoat and sinewy outer hair, can be black, gray or brown, lighter on the belly and limbs. Coloring changes with the age of the animal. The tail is tenacious and hairless, it is used together with the front legs, equipped with two opposed toes, and the hind legs to move around the trees.
As a rule, live in pairs or in groups of three or four individuals. They lead a tree-like lifestyle, slowly moving from tree to tree with the help of a tenacious tail and a strong grip on their front legs. Most of the day they rest or sleep, spending little time searching for food and cleaning their fur.
The diet consists almost entirely of leaves, as well as, to a large extent, of unripe fruits, flowers and buds.
The female gives birth to 1-2 cubs once or twice a year. They spend the first eight months of life inside the mother’s bag, but continue to stay with their mother for some time. The age of puberty is unknown.
Notes
- ↑ Ailurops ursinus (Bear Cuscus, Bear Phalanger, Sulawesi Bear Cuscus)
- ↑ Ronald M. Novak, Walker's Mammals of the World, 6th edition, Johns Hopkins University Press, 1999. ISBN 9780801857898