Tenkile
| Tenkile[1] | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Diprotodontia |
| Family: | Macropodidae |
| Genus: | Dendrolagus |
| Species: | D. scottae |
| Binomial name | |
| Dendrolagus scottae Flannery & Seri, 1990 | |
 | |
| Tenkile range | |
The tenkile (Dendrolagus scottae), also known as Scott's tree-kangaroo, is a species of tree-kangaroo in the Macropodidae family. It is endemic to a very small area of the Torricelli Mountains of Papua New Guinea.[3] Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests. It is threatened by habitat loss and by hunting.[2]
Description
The tenkile is a close relative of Doria's tree-kangaroo. It weighs 9 to 11 kilograms (20 to 24 lb), with males being larger than females. It is predominantly black with some chocolate-brown on limbs and long tail, and whirls of hair on the shoulder. It has a powerful and persistent odour.[3][4]
Habitat
The tenkile inhabits mountain forests predominated by Podocarpus, Libocedrus, Araucaria and Rapanea. It feeds on epiphytic ferns, green leafy material and vines including Scaevola and Tetracera.[4]
Status
Tenkile has declined greatly over the past fifty years including an eighty percent decline in ten years. It is currently restricted to three remote areas along the summit of the Torricelli Range, the eastern Bewani Range, the Menawa Range, and the Torricelli Mountains in the Fatima area of Papua New Guinea where it is found at altitudes between 900 and 1,700 metres (3,000 and 5,600 ft) above sea level.[3] The animal is hunted by indigenous people for food and the sub-population in the Toricelli Mountains is believed to number fewer than 250 individuals. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed the animal's status as being "critically endangered" and a moratorium on hunting has been arranged with the local community in the Swelpini area.[2]
References
- ↑ Groves, C. P. (2005). Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M, eds. Mammal Species of the World (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 60–61. OCLC 62265494. ISBN 0-801-88221-4.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Leary, T., Wright, D., Hamilton, S., Helgen, K., Singadan, R., Aplin, K., Dickman, C., Salas, L., Flannery, T., Martin, R. & Seri, L. (2008). Dendrolagus scottae. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 28 December 2008. Database entry includes justification for why this species is listed as critically endangered
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Flannery, Tim: Mammals of New Guinea, Chatswood, 1995
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Tenkile: tree kangaroo". Tenkile Conservation Alliance. Retrieved 2014-09-24.