Valentine Dubois
This
animal was found in the late 18th century in New Zealand and Australia.
The phalanger is a marsupial.
The
size of it’s head and body is 3-32 inches, and it’s tail can grow up to 25
inches.
His
habitat and range are the forests of New Zealand, Australia, New Guinea and
neighbouring islands. The phalanger lives in small bushes or trees.
When
explorers first discovered him they said that he was very similar to the
American opossum and so for many years, he was called opossum. After, its name
was shortened to possum. A few years later, scientists learned that the two
belong to different families even though both belong to the group of marsupials.
Koalas are also members of the phalangers family.
The
name phalanger comes from a Greek word meaning: bone of a finger or a toe. The
phalangers flexible toes helps the animal in climbing trees. Especially the
cuscus. They use their sharp claws to dig into the tree branches making it
easier but he also uses his tail for climbing.
These
animals can glide up to three hundred feet while jumping from tree to tree.
Because
of their yellow fur on their bellies, people also call them “yellow bellied
gliders”.
At
night, phalangers go out and search for food such as leaves, fruits, flowers,
nectar, sap and pollen. One of the gliding phalangers is called a sugar glider
because of its love for sweet food. They are also some that eat insects and
small animals.
The
gestation period is about two to five weeks. A phalanger can have up to six
young being born depending on the species. Unfortunately, the length of
pregnancy is unknown.
The phalanger’s enemies are snakes, monitor lizards and large owl .
http://www.conhttp://www.converge.org.nz/possum.
Return to Animals