Petaurus abidi, a new species of glider (Marsupialia: Petauridae) from Papua New Guinea.

Abstract

A new large marsupial glider, Petaurus abidi, from the Torricelli Mountains of northwestern coastal Papua New Guinea is described and figured, and morphologically compared with the three species of the genus previously known. The new form differs from both named races of the generally larger P. australis primarily in possession of a well developed dark mid-dorsal head-and-back stripe, an unelongated ear, noticeably smaller claws, a longer narrower palate, and greater maxillary dental measurements. It differs from P. breviceps and P. norfolcensis primarily by being larger in all cranial and dental measurements, as well as in essentially all external dimensions. However, similarities in colouration and pattern, in ear and claw proportions, and in various skull characters, as well as, to some extent, biogeographical considerations, suggest the new species' closest intrageneric relationship is with one of these two smaller species. The colloquial name recommended for this new species is Northern Glider.