Size: Head and body; 44cm, tail; 35cm Weight; 2-5.5 kg

Habitat and Distribution: Found through out New Guinea especially forests and scrubland, in burrows near streams and gullies.

Age: 11 years.

Groups and Breeding: This species is usually found in groups of two or three individuals consisting of the female and her offspring. Males and females live separately, coming together only to breed, in fact out of breeding season, the males and females will fight viciously, on their hind legs, lashing out with their forelimbs.

This species is marsupial (like a kangaroo), young are born after a gestation of only 13 days into the mother’s pouch. They eventually leave the pouch at anywhere from 108-200 days, only to make room for the next youngster.

Diet: The ground cuscus eats mainly fruits and leaves but has also been known to take insects, birds and their eggs, reptiles, amphibians and even small mammals.

• The ground cuscus has quite peculiar feet! All the toes have claws except the 1st claw of both back feet. This toe is clawless and opposable like a thumb and is used for gripping branches and climbing. In addition the 2nd and 3rd toe of the back feet are fused together (a bit like a chameleons’) with claws at the end of them which are used as hair combs.
• The tail is highly specialised for climbing. It has a scaly top and fine ridges underneath which help it to grip. It is also prehensile which means it can act like an extra limb and grip things to help with climbing etc.
• Females will collect fruit and carry it to their dens in their pouches- no need for carrier bags then!
• Mianmin, Kalam and Telefal tribes have strong beliefs about this species, unmarried men and widowers will not eat it and they also believe that this was one of the first animals to ever exist.
• They mark their territory using a strong smelling secretion which is said by some to smell of coffee.