| Blue-eyed spotted cuscus | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Infraclass: | Marsupialia |
| Order: | Diprotodontia |
| Family: | Phalangeridae |
| Genus: | Spilocuscus |
| Species: | S. wilsoni |
| Binomial name | |
| Spilocuscus wilsoni | |
 | |
| Blue-eyed spotted cuscus range | |
Theblue-eyed spotted cuscus orBiak spotted cuscus (Spilocuscus wilsoni) is a species ofcritically endangeredmarsupial in the familyPhalangeridae.
The blue-eyed spotted cuscus is one of five species of spotted cuscus in the genusSpilocuscus.
The blue-eyed spotted cuscus has a pale marbled coat with shades of brown, grey, and white with a creamy white underbelly. This species is relatively smaller in size than the otherSpilocuscus cuscuses and has distinct pale blue eyes.
The blue-eyed spotted cuscus can be found on several of the islands in theCenderawasih Bay inWest Papua and inHalmahera Island inNorth Maluku ofIndonesia. This region is made up of the islandsBiak,Supiori, andNumfor. Despite being endemic to the islandsBiak andSupiori, the blue-eyed spotted cuscus have been spotted on the island ofNumfor as pets.[2] This cuscus lives in the treetops of the tropical rainforests found throughoutSupiori andBiak. Due to the rugged terrain common on theSupiori Island, it is better insulated from human foot traffic and allows for a more flourishing population than that onBiak.
The major threats to the blue-eyed spotted cuscus includehabitat loss,hunting, and collection for theexotic pet trade by locals. Due to its rarity, the blue-eyed spotted cuscus was only scientifically described in 2004 and was deemedcritically endangered by theIUCN in 2015.[3] Recent surveys have failed to find any wild individuals fromNumfor and, more recently,Biak.
Currently, there are no widespread conservation efforts dedicated to protecting this species. However, 12% of its ecoregion (344km2) has been classified as protected between the three islands.[2][4]
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