Gray dorcopsis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gray dorcopsis |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Dorcopsis
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| Species: |
luctuosa
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| Gray dorcopsis range | |
| Synonyms | |
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Halmaturus luctuosus |
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The gray dorcopsis or gray forest wallaby (Dorcopsis luctuosa) is a type of marsupial. Marsupials are mammals that carry their young in a pouch, like kangaroos. This animal belongs to the Macropodidae family, which includes kangaroos and wallabies. You can find the gray dorcopsis in West Papua, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea.
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What Does It Look Like?
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The gray dorcopsis has a long nose and small, round ears. Its front legs are a bit longer compared to its back legs than in most other wallabies. It has a long tail with a tough, bare tip.
Its fur is short and thick. It's a smoky-grey color on its back and a lighter grey underneath. There's also a yellowish patch near its cloaca, which is a single opening for waste and reproduction.
Size Differences Between Males and Females
Male gray dorcopsis are much bigger than females. A male can weigh up to 11.6 kilograms (about 25.6 pounds). Females are much smaller, reaching only about 3.6 kilograms (about 7.9 pounds).
Males can be up to 97 centimeters (about 38 inches) long from head to body. Their tails can also be 97 centimeters long. Females are smaller, with a head and body length of about 39 centimeters (about 15 inches) and tails around 31 centimeters (about 12 inches).
Where Does It Live?
The gray dorcopsis lives only in the southern and southeastern parts of the island of New Guinea. It can be found in areas up to 400 meters (about 1,300 feet) above sea level.
Its Home in the Forest
This animal prefers to live in tropical old and new forests. It especially likes forests near rivers, called gallery forests. You might also find it in areas where the land has been disturbed, like old, unused gardens.
Why Is It in Danger?
The gray dorcopsis faces two main threats. One is that its forest home is disappearing. Forests are cut down for timber or changed into small farms.
The other big threat is hunting. People hunt the gray dorcopsis for its meat, which is called bushmeat. Near a city called Port Moresby, many of these animals have been hunted, and not many are left. It used to live in the nearby Varirata National Park, but it's not clear if any are still there.
What Does "Vulnerable" Mean?
Because of all the hunting, the number of gray dorcopsis is going down. The IUCN is a group that studies animals and plants. They believe the population is shrinking. So, they have listed the gray dorcopsis as "Vulnerable". This means it's at high risk of becoming endangered if things don't change. The IUCN suggests that people keep watching and studying this animal to help protect it.
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