The diet of spotted cuscus (Spilocuscus maculatus) in natural and captivity habitat

EVI W. SARAGIH (Department of Animal Food and Nutrient, Faculty of Animal Science, Fisheries and Marine Science, Papua State University (UNIPA), Jl. Gunung Salju Amban, Manokwari 98314, West Papua, Indonesia)
MARIA JUSTINA SADSOEITOEBOEN (Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Science, Papua State University (UNIPA), Manokwari 98314, West Papua, Indonesia)
FREDDY PATTISELANNO (Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Animal Science, Fisheries and Marine Science, Papua State University (UNIPA), Manokwari 98314, West Papua, Indonesia)

Nusantara Bioscience
Vol. 2 No. 2 (2010)

Abstract. Saragih EW, Sadsoeitoeboen MJ, Pattiselanno F. 2010. The diet of spotted cuscus (Spilocuscus maculatus) in natural and captivity habitat. Nusantara Bioscience 2: 78-83. The ex-situ conservation of cuscus (Spilocuscus maculatus) under captivating condition is an alternative solution to protect cuscus from extinction. Diets became the main factor in order to support the domestication process. Particular studies on habitat and diet of cuscus have been carried out however there is still limited information on the nutrition aspects of cuscus food. This study aimed to determine the diet type, palatability, and nutrient in both natural habitat and captivating condition. The results indicated that there were 19 and 8 plant species identified as cuscus diets in both natural habitat and captivating condition. Cuscus prefers fruits with astringent and sour taste which is contained high crude fiber and low fat.