Thylogale browni (Ramsay, 1877)

Russell A. Mittermeier & Don E. Wilson, 2015, Macropodidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 5 Monotremes and Marsupials, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 630-735 : 700

13.

New Guinea Pademelon

Thylogale browni

French: Thylogale de Brown / German: Brauner Filander / Spanish: Pademelon de Nueva Guinea

Other common names: Brown's Pademelon, Mountain Pademelon (/ anata)

Taxonomy. Halmaturus browni: Ramsay, 1877 ,

New Ireland, Papua New Guinea.

Formerly regarded as a subspecies of 1 bruni, but was reinstated as a species in 1992. It has been suggested that lanata be treated as a full species; recent molecular studies, however, do not support this, nor do they support the distinction between T. browni and either of the two other endemic New Guinea Thylogale taxa ( T. brunii , T. calabyi ). Further studies required.

Two subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

T. b. browni Ramsay, 1877 — N & E New Guinea.

T.b. lanata Thomas 1922 — Huon Peninsula, NE Papua New Guinea.

Introduced into Yapen I and several islands in Bismarck Archipelago.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 53:5-66.7 cm (males) and 48.7-56 cm (females), tail 36.6-52 cm (males) and 30-42.5 cm (females); weight 4.9-1 kg (males) and 3.5-9 kg (females). Light to dark brown dorsally, paler ventrally (gray to white, underfur gray). Fur typically short, but can be long in specimens from high elevations. Limbs same color as body, and largely hairless on inside. Face may be darker. Tail dark dorsally, but thinly furred ventrally and distally; a pale tail tip occasionally present. In 7. b. lanata, fur is long and woolly,tail shorter and better furred, and nape paler. Diploid chromosome number of T. b. browni is 22.

Habitat. T. b. browni inhabits primary and secondary lowland and lower montane rainforest, adjacent grassland and abandoned gardens, below 2100 m elevation; may prefer disturbed areas or ecotones. 7. b. lanata occurs in subalpine grassland and adjacent montane rainforest, at 3000-3800 m.

Food and Feeding. Poorly known. Reported to feed on grass, herbs, browse, and occasionally fruit.

Breeding. Poorly known. Females reportedly produce a single young and are likely to breed continuously.

Activity patterns. Likely to be nocturnal or crepuscular, but specific activity patterns of this species are virtually unknown.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. There is no information available for this species.

Status and Conservation. Treated as two species on the IUCN Red List: “1. brown?” classified as Vulnerable and “7. lanatus” classified as Endangered. This pademelon has declined in parts of its range and continues to be threatened by hunting. It is a favored subsistence game animal and is susceptible to overhunting by local people using dogs. The species was introduced to islands around northern New Guinea (e.g. Bismarck Archipelago, Yapen) in prehistory, most likely as a source of food. Subsequently, several of these populations have become extinct and others (e.g. New Ireland) are experiencing severe declines owing to hunting pressure. Additional research on taxonomy, abundance, general ecology, and impact of threats is required; the implementation of hunting regulations may be necessary.

Bibliography. Flannery (1992, 1995a, 1995b), Flannery et al. (1988), Groves (2005b), Hayman (1989), Heinsohn (2003, 2005a), Leary, Seri, Flannery, Wright, Hamilton, Helgen, Singadan, Menzies, Allison & James (2008a, 2008b), Macqueen et al. (2011).

Figures

10. Rufous-bellied Pademelon (Thylogale billardieru), 11. Red-necked Pademelon (Thylogale thetis), 12. Red-legged Pademelon (Thylogale stigmatica), 13. New Guinea Pademelon (Thylogale browni), 14. Dusky Pademelon (Thylogale brunii), 15. Calaby’s Pademelon (Thylogale calabyi), 16. Bennett's Tree Kangaroo (Dendrolagus bennettianus), 17. Lumholtz’s Tree Kangaroo (Dendrolagus lumholtzi), 18. Grizzled Tree Kangaroo (Dendrolagus inustus), 19. Vogelkop Tree Kangaroo (Dendrolagus ursinus), 20. Dingiso (Dendrolagus mbaiso), 21. Doria’s. 9 Tree Kangaroo Dendrolagus (- dorianus), 22. Scott’s Tree Kangaroo (Dendrolagus scottae), 23. Goodfellow’s Tree Kangaroo (Dendrolagus goodfellowi), 24. Huon Tree Kangaroo (Dendrolagus matschie), 25. Lowland Tree Kangaroo (Dendrolagus spadix)

Subspecies and Distribution. T. b. browni Ramsay, 1877 — N & E New Guinea. T.b. lanata Thomas 1922 — Huon Peninsula, NE Papua New Guinea. Introduced into Yapen I and several islands in Bismarck Archipelago.