Rank Species | Phylum Chordata Genus Phalanger Higher classification Phalanger | |
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Similar Stein's cuscus, Woodlark cuscus, Ornate cuscus, Mountain cuscus, Rothschild's cuscus | ||
The Telefomin cuscus (Phalanger matanim) is a probably extinct possum found on New Guinea.
It is named after the Telefol ethnic group, who knew the animal long before it was discovered scientifically by the Australian zoologist Tim Flannery. It lives in the oak forests along the Nong River in the middle of Papua New Guinea, at altitudes between 1500 and 2000 m. After the drought and wildfires of 1997, these forests were destroyed, which probably made the species extinct.
Habitat
This cuscus can be found in the areas of Telefomin and Tifalmin, and Papua New Guinea. It might be found even further northeast or west of the known collection areas. The only place where it is known with certainty was largely destroyed by fire in 1998.
References
Telefomin cuscus Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA