Common Spotted Cuscus

## Description

The common spotted cuscus (Spilocuscus maculatus ), also known as the white cuscus, is a cuscus, a marsupial that lives in the Cape York region of Australia, New Guinea, and nearby smaller islands.

## Appearance

The Common spotted cuscus is a marsupial, about the size of a common house cat. It has a round head, small hidden ears, thick fur, and a prehensile tail to aid in climbing. Its eyes range in color from yellows and oranges to reds and are slit much like a snake's. All four of its limbs have five digits and strong, curved claws, except the first digit on each foot. The second and third digits of the hindfoot are partly syndactylous: they are united by the skin at the top joint, but divide at the claws. These smaller claws can serve as hair combs when cleaning. The first and second digits of the forefoot are opposable to the other three, helping it grip branches while climbing. The undersides of its paws are bare and striated, which also help it grasp trees and food. The Common spotted cuscus has thick, woolly fur of varying colors depending on age, sex, and location. Males are typically grey/white or brown/white with splotchy patterns on their back and a white underbelly. Only males have spots. Females are usually white or grey and unspotted.

## Distribution

Common spotted cuscuses are found in Cape York, Queensland, in northeastern Australia, as well as New Guinea and nearby smaller islands. They occur in areas as far west as Sulawesi and as far east as the Solomon Islands. These animals live in rainforests, mangroves, hardwood, and eucalypt forests.

## Behavior

Common spotted cuscuses are typically very shy animals and are rarely seen, especially in northern Australia. They are nocturnal and sleep during the day on self-made platforms in tree branches. They may also rest in tree hollows, under tree roots, or among rocks. Common spotted cuscuses are slow-moving and somewhat sluggish, and thus sometimes mistaken for sloths, other possums, or even monkeys. They are typically solitary creatures and interactions with others, especially between competing males, can be aggressive and confrontational. Males scent mark their territory to warn off other males, emitting a penetrating musk odor both from their bodies and scent gland excretions. They distribute saliva on branches and twigs of trees to inform others of their territory and mediate social interactions. If they encounter another male in their area, they make barking, snarling, and hissing noises, and stand upright to defend their territories. They are aggressive and can scratch, bite, and kick potential predators.

## Diet

Common spotted cuscuses are mainly herbivores (folivores, frugivores, nectarivores) and their diet includes a wide variety of plant products. They eat the leaves of ficus, alstonia, and slonea plants, nectar, and the fruits of ficus, lithocarpus, aglia, and possibly mischocarpus and pometia plants. These animals are also known to eat flowers, small animals, and occasionally eggs.

## Reproduction

Common spotted cuscuses are polygynous meaning that males mate with more than one female within a single mating season. These animals breed year-round. The gestation period for a pregnant female is around 13 days, with a pouch period of 6-7 months. Females can have up to 3 young per birth but they rarely suckle more than 2. Each young weighs no more than 1 gram at birth and is held in the mother's well-developed forward-opening pouch. Young spotted cuscuses become reproductively mature at around one year old.

## Population

### Population threats

The Common spotted cuscus is not threatened at present, however, continued human expansion, an increase in demand for its meat and pelts, and destruction of its natural habitat could lead to a decline of the species population.

### Population number

The IUCN Red List and other sources don’t provide the number of the Common spotted cuscus total population size. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are stable.

## Fun Facts for Kids

In the Kalam language of Papua New Guinea the Common spotted cuscus is known as aklang or gabi.

The curled, prehensile tail is a distinctive characteristic of the Common spotted cuscus. The upper part of the tail closest to the body is covered in fur, while the lower half is covered in rough scales on the inside surface to grip branches.

As the young spotted cuscuses grow, they go through a series of color changes before reaching reproductive maturity. Their coloration varies from reds and whites to buffs, browns, light greys, and blacks.

## References

https://animalia.bio/common-spotted-cuscus