Phalanger orientalis Male Skull Replica measures 2.5 inches. Phalanger orientalis Skull is museum quality polyurethane cast. Cast of an original California Academy of Sciences specimen. 2-part skull (separate cranium and jaw). Made in USA. Known as the Northern Common Cuscus

Phalanger orientalis have a rounded head with a short, pointed snout, and large eyes, which can be red, orange, yellow, or pale blue. Their ears are small and often hidden by their thick, woolly fur.

The tail is prehensile naked at the end. It is covered with horny papillae. The tail length varies from 28 to 42 cm. The male tail is completely white, while the female tails are white only on the tips.

In adult males, the thick, wooly fur ranges in color from white to medium or dark gray. Adult females color ranges from reddish-brown to brownish-gray. The stomach area is commonly white.

The male has a distinct yellowish chest gland. Usually a dark stripe runs from the head to the lower back. The young of this species are reddish-brown.

The digits are of different lengths and are tipped by long, curved claws. Their paws are syndactylous, with the first and second digits opposable to the rest. The soles of their feet are naked and striated.

The female pouch has four mammae. The gestation period for Phalanger orientalis lasts around 13 days. Normally the females births twins, but the number of young ranges from one to three. Usually, one of the twins dies before weaning. The weight at birth is less than 1 gram.

Normally, the reproductive cycle occurs only once a year. Mating and reproductive seasons are from June through October, though March and November births have been observed.

The facial features include large eyes, long canines and a snout longer than that of Spilocuscus maculatus (Spotted Cuscus). The teeth are simple, low crowned and used for grinding.

The Phalanger orientalis is a species of marsupial in the family Phalangeridae native to northern New Guinea and is now also found in the Bismarck Archipelago, southeast and central Moluccas, the Solomons, and Timor, where it is believed to have been introduced in prehistoric times from New Guinea.

The Phalanger orientalis normally inhabits disturbed habitats. These would include secondary forest, plantations, and gardens. Phalanger orientalis is also found in primary tropical forest.

Phalanger orientalis is nocturnal, spending the day in a tree hollow. While foraging for food at night, it travels through the forest in a slow deliberate climb. Phalanger orientalis grips with three feet at a time and the tail wraps around the branch ready to hold weight.

Ground travel though rare is characterized by a slow, bounding gait. If necessary, P. orientalis moves quickly through the canopy and even jump across gaps.

While living in the arboreal environments, hunters in the area believe that the tree hollows are the preferred den site of the cuscus.

Phalanger orientalis inhabits the islands of Timor, specifically Indonesia and Timor Leste, Wetar and Leti through the Kai Islands and Ambon, Buru, and Seram.

Phalanger orientalis are also found in Misool, Waigeo, Batanta, and Salawati. It ranges as far east as the Bismarck Archipelago, Papua New Guinea, where it is present on many islands including the islands of New Britain and New Ireland.

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