Animal Info - Goodfellow's Tree Kangaroo

(Other Names: Ornate Tree Kangaroo)

Dendrolagus goodfellowi (formerly considered to be conspecific with Matschie's tree kangaroo, D. matschiei)

Status: Endangered

1. Profile (Picture)
2. Tidbits
3. Status and Trends (IUCN Status, Countries Where Currently Found, History of Distribution, Threats and Reasons for Decline)
4. Data on Biology and Ecology (Weight, Habitat, Gestation Period, Birth Season, Birth Rate, Maximum Age, Diet, Social Organization)
5. References

Profile

Pictures: Goodfellow's Tree Kangaroo #1 (19 Kb JPEG); Goodfellow's Tree Kangaroo #2 (37 Kb JPEG)

Goodfellow's tree kangaroo, a marsupial which weighs about 7 kg (about 15 lb), is found in mountainous rain forests. It shelters in small groups in trees during the day and spends much of its life there, but it also frequently descends to the ground. Its diet consists mainly of leaves and fruit, obtained either in trees or on the ground.

In 1983 Goodfellow's tree kangaroo occurred in central and eastern New Guinea. By 1987 it was reportedly still widespread, but it was apparently increasingly coming under pressure from hunting in the Central Highlands of New Guinea, and had declined markedly in many areas. In 1992 it was reported to occur from the border of central Irian Jaya (Indonesia) and Papua New Guinea through central and eastern Papua New Guinea.

The main threat to Goodfellow's tree kangaroo is due to overhunting.

Tidbits

*** Goodfellow's tree kangaroo appears to be extremely vulnerable to overhunting - it seems to be quickly extirpated from areas where there has been chronic hunting, even by remarkably small human populations.

*** It is very agile in trees and often travels rapidly from tree to tree, leaping as much as 9 m (30') downward to an adjoining tree.

Status and Trends

IUCN Status:

1994: Endangered
1996 - 2004: Endangered (Criteria: A1a) (Population Trend: Decreasing) (IUCN 2004)

Countries Where Goodfellow's Tree Kangaroo Is Currently Found:

2004: Occurs in Indonesia (Irian Jaya) and Papua New Guinea (IUCN 2004).

History of Distribution:

In 1983 Goodfellow's tree kangaroo occurred in central and eastern New Guinea. By 1987 it was reportedly still widespread, but it was apparently increasingly coming under pressure from hunting in the Central Highlands of New Guinea, and had declined markedly in many areas. In 1992 it was reported to occur from the border of central Irian Jaya (Indonesia) and Papua New Guinea through central and eastern Papua New Guinea.

Distribution Map (110 Kb JPG) (Tenkile Cons. All. 2004)

Threats and Reasons for Decline:

Overhunting.

Data on Biology and Ecology

Weight:

An adult female weighed 7.7 kg (17 lb) and an adult male weighed 6.7 kg (14.7 lb).

Habitat:

Tree kangaroos dwell mainly in mountainous rain forests up to 3000 m (9800').

Goodfellow's tree kangaroo occurs in the New Guinea Lowland Forests Global 200 Ecoregion. (Olson & Dinerstein 1998, Olson & Dinerstein 1999)

Gestation Period:

Approximately 32 days.

Birth Season:

Goodfellow's tree kangaroo probably has no well-defined breeding season.

Birth Rate:

Usually 1 young is born at a time.

Maximum Age:

14 years, in captivity.

Diet:

Leaves and fruit.

Social Organization:

They shelter in small groups in trees during the day.

References

Alcorn & Beehler 1993, Burton & Pearson 1987, IUCN 1994, IUCN 1996, IUCN 2000, IUCN 2003a, IUCN 2004, Kennedy 1992, Nowak & Paradiso 1983, Olson & Dinerstein 1998, Olson & Dinerstein 1999

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