Abstract:
The research was conducted at Manokwari forest areas which ranging from Oransbari, Mokwam, to Menyambou near to Arfak mountainous preserved area. It takes one months to finish the research. The methodology approaches were field observation, catching the targeted mammal (possum) and interview with the local people. The main objective of this research was to study morphological attributes of possums at Arfak mountainous preserved area. The results indicate that four species possums were identified, Pseudochirulus schlegeli, Pseudochirops albertisii, Phalanger orientalis dan Spilocuscus maculatus. These possums can be grouped into two families, Pseudocheiridae dan Phalangeridae. The smallest possum was Pseudochirulus schlegeli, whilst the biggest was Phalanger orientalis. There was a significantly different in appearance, mainly their hair color of Phalanger orientalis male between mature and young. Data recorded from this research were added to the possum’s existed morphological characteristics. Generally, it was indicated that the bodies of possums identified were smaller than the possums reported by Flannery (1994). On the other hand, morphological characteristics of Pseudochirops albertisii, such as body length, were bigger than those reported by Flannery (1994). The bodies attributes of Phalanger orientalis recorded at Mokwam were bigger that those recorded at Oransbari or even reported by Flannery (1994. In addition, Spilocuscus maculatus was only seen not caught.
