By Laura Anderson
Have you ever heard of the illusive cuscus? It is most likely that you haven’t! These captivating creatures have managed to avoid the public’s eye for many years, despite there being up to 21 different subspecies!
The cuscus (pronounced Khus-Khus) is a marsupial belonging to the genus Phalanger, not to be mistaken for the North African dish couscous! These animals are a type of Australasian possum, a type of tree-dwelling marsupial found in Asia and Oceania. They are identified by their prehensile tails and vertical pupils. The cuscus’ diet consists of fruits, leaves and insects. They find these in the tropical rainforests and the mangrove trees that they live in. Their diet doesn’t provide a lot of energy, and as a result they are quite slow and lethargic. Despite this, they are quite graceful and have been nicknamed the “slow-motion acrobats of the forest”.
Like many other possums, these animals are solitary and are only found in groups during mating season or when caring for young. As a marsupial, the cuscus has a pouch for carrying their young. These young will reach sexual maturity when they are 1 year old, by that age they will be fending for themselves. Cuscus have an average lifespan of 11 years old. Unfortunately, cuscus numbers have dwindled. Not only does habitat loss threaten these animals, but these possums are also poached for their fur. Luckily, researchers do not believe the animals are at any risk and their official conservation status is of least concern.
There is still a lot to know about the captivating cuscus, and hopefully we will know more about these illusive creatures in the future!
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