Common Spotted Cuscus
Spilocuscus maculatus
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassMammalia (Mammals)
- OrderDiprotodontia (Kangaroos, Possums, Wombats, and Allies)
- FamilyPhalangeridae (Cuscuses and Brush-tailed Possums)
- GenusSpilocuscus (Spotted Cuscuses)
- SpeciesSpilocuscus maculatus (Common Spotted Cuscus)
About the Common Spotted Cuscus
The common spotted cuscus (Spilocuscus maculatus), also known as the white cuscus, is a cuscus, a marsupial that lives in the Cape York region of Australia, New Guinea, and nearby smaller islands. It is known as aklang or gabi in the Kalam language of Papua New Guinea.
The common spotted cuscus is about the size of a common house cat, weighing 1.5 to 6 kilograms (3.3 to 13.2 lb), body size about 35 to 65 centimetres (14 to 26 in) long, and a tail 32 to 60 centimetres (13 to 24 in) long. It has a round head, small hidden ears, thick fur, and a prehensile tail to aid in climbing. Its eyes range in colour from yellows and oranges to reds, and are slit much like a snake's. All four of its limbs have five digits and strong, curved claws, except the first digit on each foot. The second and third digits of the hind foot are partly syndactylous: they are united by skin at the top joint, but divide at the claws. These smaller claws can serve as hair combs when cleaning. The first and second digits of the fore foot are opposable to the other three, helping it grip branches while climbing. The undersides of its paws are bare and striated, which also help it grasp... Wikipedia →
Closest Relatives at Raja Ampat
Waigeou Cuscus
Spilocuscus papuensis
Black-spotted Cuscus
Spilocuscus rufoniger
Northern Common Cuscus
Phalanger orientalis
Gebe Cuscus
Phalanger alexandrae
Striped Possum
Dactylopsila trivirgata
Feather-tailed Possum
Distoechurus pennatus
Brown Dorcopsis
Dorcopsis muelleri
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raja Ampat | 🇮🇩 Indonesia |
More parks will be added in future updates.
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Common Spotted Cuscus in Raja Ampat?
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Common Spotted Cuscus sighting in Raja Ampat, based on 6 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Common Spotted Cuscus in Raja Ampat?
October has the highest sighting rate for Common Spotted Cuscus in Raja Ampat in our monthly data.