Blue-eyed spotted cuscus

Blue-eyed spotted cuscus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Diprotodontia
Family: Phalangeridae
Genus: Spilocuscus
Species: S. wilsoni
Binomial name
Spilocuscus wilsoni
Helgen & Flannery, 2004
Blue-eyed spotted cuscus range

The blue-eyed spotted cuscus or Biak spotted cuscus (Spilocuscus wilsoni) is a species of marsupial in the family Phalangeridae. It is endemic to the islands of Biak and Supiori in the Cenderawasih Bay in West Papua of Indonesia.[1] Only scientifically described in 2004, it appears to be very rare, likely due to hunting and habitat loss, and has consequently been rated as critically endangered by the IUCN. Recent surveys have failed to find any wild individuals. Unlike all other members of the genus Spilocuscus, this relatively small species has distinct pale blue eyes.

References

Notes
  1. 1 2 Aplin, K & Helgen, K. (2008). Spilocuscus wilsoni. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 19 September 2009. Database entry includes justification for why this species is listed as critically endangered


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