Family: Macropodidae
Genus: Dendrolagus
Species: matschiei

Matschie's Tree Kangaroo lives only in the mountains of the Huon Peninsula in Morobe and Madang Provinces-PNG at elevations between 1000-3300m. Its distribution is thought to be approximately 5000 square kilometres. Matschie's Tree Kangaroo has a reddish-brown overall colour, and a golden-yellow tail, stomach, feet, nose and tips to its ears. It's tail is relatively short and its maximum weight, for males and females, is about 9kg. Normally they have one young at a time, very rarely twins. These young are born tiny, hairless and spend about 10 months in the mother's pouch, after which they may spend only another three months with her before being totally independent.
Each Matschie's Tree Kangaroo have different facial markings which makes each individual identifiable. This species has been held in many zoos and have been bred successfully. In captivity these animals can live up to 15 years. Matschie's Tree Kangaroo has been eliminated from some places of its range and as a result has been classified as endangered.

Matschie's Tree Kangaroo
(Dendrolagus matschiei)

Illustration by Peter Schouten