Sloth cuscus (SciiFii)

The sloth cuscus (Phascoloepus apaticus), sometimes known as the marsupial sloth, is a species of Australian possum that originally did not exist, but has since been created by SciiFii and introduced throughout the rainforests, forested wetlands, and forests across Australia and New Guinea to help boost biodiversity. Males are 45 to 55 centimetres (18 to 22 in) in head-body length, with a short, 4 to 6 centimetres (1.6 to 2.4 in), tail, and weigh from 3.2 to 6 kilograms (7.1 to 13.2 lb). However, the females are noticeably larger, being from 50 to 75 centimetres (20 to 30 in) in length, and weighing 3.8 to 6.5 kilograms (8.4 to 14.3 lb). The body is covered with coarse guard hairs up to 10 centimetres (3.9 in) long, with a finer undercoat. Green algae live mutualistically between the microscopic scales on the surface of the guard hairs, giving the sloth cuscus a somewhat greenish appearance that serves as camouflage. The eyes are large and forward facing for binocular vision, with round pupils. Despite its apparently small ears, the sloth cuscus has excellent hearing; it also has a good sense of smell. The sloth cuscus is a solitary animal that spends almost its entire life in trees. Depending on habitat, population densities of anything from 1.7 to 221 per square kilometre (4.4 to 572.4/sq mi) have been reported. The sloth cuscus is a slow-moving herbivore and primarily eats leaves, twigs, and buds, filling the similar ecological niche to the sloths of the Americas, although it can occasionally feed on fruits in the wild. Mating takes place in the trees, with the pair either face to face, or with the male on the female's back. The female gives birth to a single joey after a gestation period of about six months. The joey is nursed in its mother's pouch for up to about 3 months until it is a fully-developed young resembling an adult, when it is fully independent from its mother. The conservation status of the sloth cuscus is Least Concern due to successful conservation efforts, the sloth cuscus's wide range and its tolerance to many of the human activities.
Category:Animals
Category:Species
Category:SciiFii