The Matschie’s tree kangaroo has a very small home range. Found only in Australia, West Papua, and Papua New Guinea, the Matschie’s tree kangaroo is endemic to the Huon Peninsula, giving the species its other common name, the Huon Tree Kangaroo. Spending most of its time in trees, the Matschie’s tree kangaroo is arboreal, living in mid-montane to upper-montane cloud forests at elevations of up to 11,000 feet.
Despite their climbing and jumping abilities, tree kangaroos sleep 60 percent of the time, curling up in whatever tree they happen to be in.
In the wild, Matschie’s tree kangaroos are folivorous, eating leaves from a variety of forest trees, vines, ferns, orchids, shrubs, and herbs. The animal might supplement this diet with small amounts of fruit and flowers, tender grasses, and even tree bark!
Having no defined mating season, female Matschie’s tree kangaroos go into heat every 51 to 79 days. Solitary in nature, the animals only come together to mate. Following a gestation of approximately 40 to 45 days (the longest of any known marsupial), the undeveloped joey is born and must climb up the mother’s belly, into her pouch, and find a teat to latch onto.
