Hello Steemers,
I have not posted a Rainforest Marvel in quite a while. Here is one delightful hidden gem of the rainforest.
The Golden Mantled Tree Kangaroo
Photo Source: http://nadyn.biz/kangaroo-images-wallpapers-63-wallpapers/
The Golden Mantled Tree Kangaroo (Dendrolagus pulcherrimus) is a marsupial found in the mid-montane rainforests of Papua New Guinea. They are critically endangered, mostly attributed to bush meat hunting by the locals and habitat destruction. They can also be found in Australia and Indonesia.
These tree dwellers eat fruit, sap, bark, eggs, small birds and flowers. They can be between 30-50 inches long and weigh approximately 30 pounds. They leap from tree to tree often covering 30 feet in one swoop. Gestation is between 39-46 months with the tiny marsupial fetus crawling to a pouch for continued development. The Joey will be housed in the pouch for up to 10 months.
Interesting facts: They are clumsy on the ground due to their size (their tails also are very heavy). Unusually they are able to move their hind legs independently from the front.
Here is a video of the Golden Mantled Tree Kangaroo
http://www.arkive.org/goodfellows-tree-kangaroo/dendrolagus-goodfellowi/video-03.html
References:-
http://www.tenkile.com/weimang-tree-kangaroo.html
http://eol.org/pages/311964/details
http://animalsake.com/random-facts-about-tree-kangaroo