Lumholtz's Tree Kangaroo

Lumholtz's Tree Kangaroo
(Dendrolagus lumholtzi)

Illustration - Peter Schouten

The Lumholtz's Tree Kangaroo is found in montane rainforest of far north Queensland, Australia. It inhabits elevations from approximately 300 to 1600m. This species total distribution is about 5500 square kilometres. Lumholtz's Tree Kangaroo is quite different from the other long-footed Tree Kangaroos (the others being Bennett's and Grizzled) in that it is usually just encountered in mountain forests, i.e restricted ot the one type of habitat. Lumholtz's are the smallest of all the Tree Kangaroos with males averaging 7.2kg and females 5.9kg in weight. With its smalll size and specific habitat requirements it has more in common with members of the short-footed group of Tree Kangaroos. Lumholtz's Tree Kangaroo has a cream chest and stomach, black feet with a grey back consisting of black tips. Adult males defend a home range which overlaps home ranges of several females. The home range size for this species is a lot smaller than other species which means it can live in higher densites. Reproduction is slow. Pouch life is about eight months for young Lumholtz's and youngsters can accompany their mothers for more than two years. In the past the Lumholtz's Tree Kangaroo was hunted by aborigines and so was less common than it is now. Today it is now common in rainforests areas where it was rare or absent beforehand. Lumholtz's Tree Kangaroo has been classified as being secure.

Distribution of the Lumholtz's Tree Kangaroo