Results of the Archbold Expeditions. No. 17, Some original observations on the habits of Dactylopsila trivirgata Gray

Title Variants

Alternative: Some original observations on the habits of Dactylopsila trivirgata Gray

Related Titles

Series: American Museum novitates, no. 957

By

Rand, Austin Loomer, 1905-1982
Archbold Expedition to New Guinea (1936-1937)

Type

Book

Material

Published material

Publication info

New York City, The American Museum of Natural History, [1937]

Notes

Title from caption.

"Nov. 1, 1937."

Observations made in 1937, during the second Archbold Expedition to New Guinea.

"Observations were made on a captive Dactylopsila trivirgata. It was a quiet, rather stupid creature, nocturnal in habits. It was an agile climber but though the tail is apparently adapted for prehensility, it was not seen to be so used. The big toe is opposable, the thumb not so, but food is held in the fore paws. Dactylopsila has a specialized defense attitude. It drank readily and preferred milk to water. If drinking is necessary to this animal that may limit its distribution in south New Guinea. Its favorite food was wood-boring beetle larvae. The long tongue was used in removing small grubs from small cavities in wood, and the contents of tough-skinned grubs. The rodent-like teeth were used in breaking open wood in search of grubs; the elongated fourth finger was used to draw out grubs from cavities. This corresponds exactly with the suppositions made by taxonomists regarding the habits of this group of animals. A habit possibly associated with locating prey encased in wood is a light, quick tapping on a wood surface when examining it. It is interesting to note the parallel development in structure (and habits?) of this creature and the aye-aye (Daubentonia) of Madagascar"--P. 7.

Subjects

59.9,2P , Behavior , Dactylopsila trivirgata , Mammals , Marsupials , New Guinea , Papua New Guinea

Call Number

QL1 .A436 no.957, 1937

Language

English

Identifiers

OCLC: 31842220