TREVORS ANIMAL OF THE DAY MAY 30, 2014 Dendrolagus matschiei. This is Matschies tree-kangaroo. It was named after famed German biologist Paul Matschie. They are relatively small macropods, much smaller than Australias red kangaroo. They are native to the Huon Peninsula of Papua New Guinea. They are mostly arboreal creatures, choosing to live on trees instead of in burrows or under tree cover. Theyre quite small, weighing only 9-11 kg (20-15 lb). In the wild, they mainly feed on leaves, fruits, and moss. When in captivity, theyre found to be tolerant of a much wider diet, being fed apples, root vegetables, corn, celery, kale, digestive biscuits, eggs, and tofu. Their range is very small. And due to many of the trees in the Huon Peninsula being cleared, their habitat has largely been destroyed, and they are considered endangered by the IUCN Red List. There are conservation efforts to reintroduce this species to other parts of Papua New Guinea and they are bred (with much success) in captivity. However, due to genetic bottlenecking, their genetic diversity has narrowed significantly within the last few decades. FUN FACTS! 1. They dont sweat. They actually lick themselves, and let the moisture drying up from their skin cool them down. 2. Kangaroos in general have evolved a digestive system similar to that of the ruminants. They have a tubiform forestomach where fermentation and breakdown of tough plant material starts. (If you want to see more animals, follow the hashtag #trevorAOTD!) #trevorAOTD #animals #kangaroo #endangered
Posted on: Fri, 30 May 2014 09:39:57 +0000
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