Little Celebes Cuscus

Little information is known on possible predators of S. celebensis. It is assumed they have a limited number due to their arboreal lifestyle. Other species of cuscus are eaten by humans and New Guinea singing dogs.

Known Predators:

• humans Homo sapiens
• New Guinea singing dogs Canis lupus hallstromi

Little Celebes cuscuses have an overall pale buff coloration, lacking a dorsal stripe, and the tail is partially naked part. They are small possums, weighing 1 kg or less. Head and body length is 294 to 380 mm and tail length is 270 to 373 mm. The rostrum is narrower than other phalangerids, the lachrymal is retracted from the face, the ectotympanic is almost totally excluded from the anterior face of the postglenoid process, and the third upper premolar is set at a more oblique angle relative to the molar row than it is in other phalangerids. Little Celebes cuscuses are also characterized by the large size of the third upper premolar, a widening of the zygomatic arches at the orbits, and short paroccipital processes.

Average mass: 1 kg.

Range length: 294 to 380 mm.

Other Physical Features: endothermic ; homoiothermic; bilateral symmetry

Sexual Dimorphism: sexes alike

The lifespan of S. celebensis is unknown. Other species of cuscus are known to live 3 to 11 years in captivity.

Strigocuscus celebensis occurs in rainforests and in secondary forests and gardens around human dwellings.

Habitat Regions: tropical ; terrestrial

Terrestrial Biomes: forest ; rainforest

Other Habitat Features: suburban ; agricultural

For a detailed analysis of mitochondrial DNA of S. celebensis see the work of Ruedas and Morales (2005). For a detailed analysis of morphological and skeletal analysis of S. celebensis see the work of Crosby and Norris (2003). For a detailed analysis of museum study skins and skeletons of S. celebensis and its subspecies see the work of Groves (1987).

Little is known about communication in Little Celebes cuscuses. Like most nocturnal mammals they are likely to use chemical cues (smells) and hearing extensively. Cuscuses have large eyes to help them see in low light.

Communication Channels: chemical

Perception Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic ; chemical

The status of S. celebensis is uncertain. According to IUCN S. celebensis is data deficient, there is not enough information to determine population status.

US Federal List: no special status

CITES: no special status

State of Michigan List: no special status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: vulnerable

Little Celebes cuscuses are sometimes considered household pests. They tend to be found in suburban areas and are known to eat plants from gardens and to nest in roofs.

Negative Impacts: crop pest; household pest

Little Celebes cuscuses are an important source of meat for people in New Guinea and are widely hunted. In some areas of Indonesia, such as the Sula Islands in the Western Moluccas, cuscuses are not eaten in accordance with religious beliefs. Little Celebes cuscuses help to disperse fruiting tree seeds.

Positive Impacts: food

Because of their frugivorous diet S. celebensis help the ecosystem by dispersing seeds.

Ecosystem Impact: disperses seeds

Mutualist Species:

• Ailurops ursinus

Little Celebes cuscuses are presumed to be primarily frugivorous, based on their morphology and the diet of other cuscuses. Other species of cuscus include leaves, fruits, flowers, bark, pollen, and fungi in their diets.

Plant Foods: leaves; roots and tubers; wood, bark, or stems; seeds, grains, and nuts; fruit; pollen; flowers

Other Foods: fungus

Primary Diet: herbivore (Frugivore )

Strigocuscus celebensis occurs exclusively on Sulawesi and surrounding islands. Subspecies of S. celebensis occur throughout this range: S. c. celebensis is found in southern and central Sulawesi, S. c. feileri is found in north Sulawesi, and S. c. sangirensis is found on the Sangihe Islands north of Sulawesi.

Biogeographic Regions: australian (Native )

Other Geographic Terms: island endemic

Little Celebes cuscuses are monogamous and occur in pairs.

Mating System: monogamous

Female S. celebensis have a forward-oriented pouch with two to four teats. Little Celebes cuscuses generally produce one to two litters per year, up to three to four young may be born, but only one is usually reared. Gestation is 20 days or less and young are born very small and unfurred.

Breeding interval: Little Celebes cuscuses generally produce one to two litters per year.

Range number of offspring: 1 to 4.

Average number of offspring: 1.

Average gestation period: 20 days.

Range weaning age: 5 to 8 months.

Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; year-round breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; viviparous

Infant S. celebensis exit their mother's pouch between five and eight months after birth, after which they are carried on their mother’s back.

Parental Investment: altricial ; pre-fertilization (Provisioning, Protecting: Female); pre-hatching/birth (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female); pre-weaning/fledging (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female); pre-independence (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female)

The small Sulawesi cuscus lives in the hollows of trees, from where it can get easy access to forage in the forest canopy (3). It feeds primarily on fruit and is most active during the night (2) (3) (5). Unlike most species within the Phalangeridae, which are thought to be promiscuous, the small Sulawesi cuscus forms monogamous pairs (2) (3). However, all members of the family are thought to share similar reproductive traits, with the adult female producing one to two litters per year. Out of three to four, small, un-furred young that are born following a gestation period of just 20 days, only one will usually be reared. This infant will only exit the pouch after being weaned at around five to eight months (3).

In the absence of recent surveys, it is unclear how rapidly the small Sulawesi cuscus population is declining or indeed even what the size of the population is. Consequently, it is important that further surveys are carried out, so that a more detailed assessment can be made of its conservation status (1). While this species is technically protected by Indonesian law (1), the funding and human resources required to enforce the law are limited, particularly so in Sulawesi (6). Nonetheless, a Wildlife Crimes Unit, established by the Indonesian Department of Forestry and the Wildlife Conservation Society in 2001 to monitor wildlife trade in North Sulawesi, has been effective in reducing trade in some protected mammals (6) (7). The next step is to expand the Wildlife Crimes Unit to cover all of Sulawesi and to work with local communities to strengthen conservation awareness (7).

The small Sulawesi cuscus is a diminutive, possum-like marsupial, with soft, pale buff fur (2) (3). In common with the 22 other species of cuscus and possum that comprise the family Phalangeridae, the small Sulawesi cuscus has a short face, with protruding eyes and a naked nose (2) (4). The feet have five digits, all of which are strongly clawed, except for the big toes of the hind feet. The un-clawed big toes are opposable to the remaining toes of the hind feet, as are the first two toes of the forefeet to the other three (2) (3). This enables the cuscus to firmly grip branches, which, in addition to having a long prehensile tail, makes the small Sulawesi cuscus an excellent tree climber (3) (4). The female cuscus has a well developed pouch that opens to the front and conceals two to four nipples (2).

An arboreal animal, the small Sulawesi cuscus typically inhabits primary, and sometimes secondary, tropical lowland forest (1).

Endemic to Indonesia, this cuscus occurs only on Sulawesi and the nearby islands of Sangihe, Siau and Muna (1) (2).

Classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List (1).

Hunting of the small Sulawesi cuscus for food, and deforestation due to agriculture and logging, are the most significant threats to this species. Given the rate at which habitat is being lost and the probable extent to which this species is over-exploited, it is likely that its population is declining significantly (1).

The Sulawesi dwarf cuscus (Strigocuscus celebensis) is a species of arboreal marsupial in the family Phalangeridae that is endemic to Sulawesi and nearby islands in Indonesia. It inhabits tropical moist lowland forest and is nocturnal, folivorous and usually found in pairs. S. celebensis is threatened by hunting and deforestation.