Dactylopsila

Great strip Beutler

The strip Beutler ( Dactylopsila ), also Streifenphalanger are a marsupial genus of the family of gliders ( Petauridae ). In spite of belonging to this family, they have as their closest relative, the croissant Beutler, no Gleitmembranen. The genus is divided into four types.

Beutler strips are located in New Guinea, including offshore islands and on the Cape York Peninsula in northeastern Australia. It took its name from the three black or dark brown stripes, stretching down on the otherwise white or light gray colored coat the back. A striking feature is the thin, elongated fourth finger of the front legs terminating in a hooked nail. This finger is similar to the finger animal and serves the same purpose, herauszufangen insects from holes and crevices. Greatly enlarged incisors used for gnawing the bark to get to their prey. Strip Beutler reach a body length from 17 to 32 inches and a weight of 250 to 550 grams. The tail is bushy, it ends in a white tip and is approximately 17 to 40 inches long.

Strip Beutler are nocturnal forest dwellers, they live on trees and rarely come with one exception, if any on the floor. During the day they sleep in a leaf nest to go out at night in search of food. Their diet consists mainly of insects, in addition they also take fruits and nectar to him.

Against predators, they defend themselves with an extremely foul-smelling glandular secretion. In conjunction with the striped coat pattern can be seen here parallels to the skunks.

While male strip Beutler are solitary, females are found more often in female groups, together with their offspring. There are probably during the mating season fierce fighting between rival males. Otherwise, little is known about the reproduction.

Beutler strips are divided into four types:

• The Great strip Beutler ( Dactylopsila trivirgata ) is widespread in New Guinea and north-eastern Queensland. He is the best-researched and most widespread Art
• Dactylopsila tatei lives exclusively on the Ferguson Island off the south coast of New Guinea. Because of its small distribution area it is considered threatened.
• Dactylopsila megalura is located in western Guinea.
• Dactylopsila palpator is sometimes performed in a separate subgenus, Dactylonax. In this type of extended fourth finger is particularly pronounced, also it is considered as more down alive than the other strip Beutler species. Your home is the central and eastern New Guinea.