29-510: Salawai River is a river of Seram Island , Maluku province, Indonesia , about 2500 km northeast of the capital Jakarta . The river is noted for its saltwater crocodiles . Tourists can be taken up the river in longboats . The river flows in the central northern area of Seram island with predominantly tropical rainforest climate (designated as Af in the Köppen-Geiger climate classification). The annual average temperature in
58-462: A number of smaller islands adjacent to Seram. Religion in Seram Island (2023) Seram has been traditionally associated with the animism of the indigenous Alfur (or Nuaulu ), a West Melanesian people who reputedly retained a custom of headhunting until the 1940s. Today, however, most of the population of Seram is either Muslim or Christian due to both conversion and immigration. Seram
87-531: A penetrating musk odor both from their bodies and scent gland excretions. They distribute saliva on branches and twigs of trees to inform others of their territory and mediate social interactions. If they encounter another male in their area, they make barking, snarling, and hissing noises, and stand upright to defend their territories. They are aggressive, and can scratch, bite, and kick potential predators. Cuscuses mate year-round and with multiple partners, conducting courtship on tree limbs. The gestation period for
116-561: A pregnant female is around 13 days, with a pouch period of 6–7 months. While females have four teats in their pouches and can have up to three young per birth, they rarely suckle more than two. Each young weighs no more than 1 gram at birth, and is held in the mother's well-developed forward-opening pouch. Cuscuses can live to be 11 years old, and reach sexual maturity around one year old. The common spotted cuscus lives in rainforests, mangroves, hardwood and eucalypt forests below 1,200 metres (3,900 ft); unlike most of its relatives, it
145-414: A series of color changes before reaching sexual maturity around one year old. Colouration varies from reds and whites to buffs, browns, light greys, and blacks. Unlike some other species of cuscuses or possums , the common spotted cuscus does not have a dorsal stripe on its fur. The curled, prehensile tail is a distinctive characteristic of the common spotted cuscus. The upper part of the tail closest to
174-538: 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 trees and food. The first digit on
203-521: Is because of its location at the meeting of several tectonic microplates, which have been described as "one of the most tectonically complex areas on Earth". Seram falls on its microplate, which has been twisted around by 80° in the last 8 million years by the relatively faster movement of the Papua microplate. Meanwhile, along with the northward push of the Australian Plate, this has resulted in
232-550: 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
261-536: Is not restricted to rainforest environments. Because it lives in dense wooded habitats, it is not easily seen, especially in Australia. It is debated whether cuscuses originated in Australia and then migrated to New Guinea, or vice versa. It is believed that over the past million years there have been waves of migration during periods of low sea levels that exposed seabed across the Torres Strait . Currently
290-526: Is rarely spotted in Australia, mostly because it is a very shy creature. It was introduced by humans to Selayar , Mussau , and New Ireland , and has since flourished in these areas. The conservation status of the common spotted cuscus is least concern because of its wide population distribution, ability to flourish in a variety of environments, and lack of dominating predators. However, continued human expansion, an increase in demand for cuscus meat and pelts, and destruction of its natural habitat could lead to
319-486: Is slow-moving and somewhat sluggish, sometimes mistaken for sloths , other possums, or even monkeys . Unlike its close relatives, the common spotted cuscus has been observed feeding during the day on rare occasions. The common spotted cuscus is typically a solitary creature, feeding and nesting alone. Interactions with others, especially between competing males, can be aggressive and confrontational. Male cuscuses scent mark their territory to warn off other males, emitting
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#1732775548927348-502: Is the largest and main island of Maluku province of Indonesia , despite Ambon Island 's historical importance. It is located just north of the smaller Ambon Island and a few other adjacent islands, such as Saparua , Haruku , Nusa Laut and the Banda Islands . Seram is traversed by a central mountain range , the highest point of which, Mount Binaiya , is covered with dense rain forests . Its remarkably complex geology
377-513: The Ceram rat , all considered threatened. Herpetiles are highly prevalent on the islands. The largest and most dangerous to humans is the saltwater crocodile , found within the island's coastal brackish waters and deltas ; some are known to swim inland via freshwater routes, such as the Salawai River . Other reptiles of the island include Amboina sailfin lizards , Bronchocela sp.,
406-564: The Manusela tribe follow Hinduism. Copra , resin , sago , and fish are important products. Oil is produced in the northeast near Bula by CITIC Seram Energy who took over from KUFPEC (Indonesia) Limited in 2006. The Oseil oil field is located onshore in the northeast of the island in the Seram Non-Bula Production Sharing Contract area. The discovery well was drilled in 1993. As of end 2010
435-434: The brown tree snake , emerald tree skinks , green sea turtles , Indonesian blue-tongued skinks , Moluccan flying snakes and the tokay gecko , among numerous other species of gecko and skink . Amphibians include Fejervarya , fork-tongued frogs and Horst's and white-lipped tree frogs . In the eastern part of the island, Manusela National Park was established in 1997, covering an area of 1,890 km (11% of
464-517: The common spotted cuscus and several species of Phalanger . The mountain area of Seram supports the greatest number of endemic mammals of any island in the region. It harbors 38 mammal species and includes nine species that are endemic or near-endemic, several of which are limited to montane habitats. These include the Seram bandicoot , several bat species including Moluccan and Seram flying foxes , Manusela mosaic-tailed rat , spiny Ceram rat and
493-453: The 1780s, Seram provided a key base of support for Prince Nuku of Tidore 's long-running rebellion against Dutch rule. From 1954 until 1962 the island's mountain terrain was the scene of an armed guerilla struggle against Indonesian rule by the counter revolutionary Republic of South Moluccas movement led by Soumokil . Seram includes three of the regencies within the province of Maluku, but administratively each of these regencies includes
522-411: The 2020 Census was 773,459 people, administered among three regencies ( kabupaten ), namely Maluku Tengah Regency (which had 204,907 people on Seram Island itself and 218,185 on the lesser islands, the majority on Ambon Island), Seram Bagian Barat Regency and Seram Bagian Timur Regency . Seram Island is remarkable for its high degree of localised bird endemism. There are 117 species of birds on
551-673: The Seram Non-Bula Block had estimated proven oil reserves of 9.7 million barrels. Most production comes from the Jurassic Manusela carbonate formation. [REDACTED] Media related to Seram at Wikimedia Commons 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
580-515: The area is 23 °C. The warmest month is April, when the average temperature is around 24 °C, and the coldest is March, at 22 °C. The average annual rainfall is 3387 mm. The wettest month is July, with an average of 523 mm rainfall, and the driest is October, with 95 mm rainfall. 2°57′16″S 129°13′05″E / 2.9543657°S 129.218016°E / -2.9543657; 129.218016 Seram Island Seram (formerly spelled Ceram ; also Seran or Serang )
609-425: The body is covered in fur, while the lower half is covered in rough scales on the inside surface to grip branches. The common spotted cuscus is typically very shy, so it is rarely seen, especially in northern Australia. It is nocturnal , hunting and feeding at night and sleeping during the day on self-made platforms in tree branches. It also has been found resting in tree hollows, under tree roots, or among rocks. It
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#1732775548927638-528: The common spotted cuscus resides in Cape York, Queensland, in northeastern Australia, as well as New Guinea and nearby smaller islands. It inhabits areas as far west as Sulawesi and as far east as the Solomon Islands . The common spotted cuscus has an unspecialised dentition, allowing it to eat a wide variety of plant products. It eats the leaves of ficus, alstonia, and slonea plants, nectar, and
667-411: The entire southern coast of Seram in early 1512, for the first time for Europeans. Portuguese missionaries were active there in the 16th century. Dutch trading posts were opened in the early 17th century, and the island came under nominal Dutch control c. 1650. The Tidore Sultanate made periodical claims on Seram and were accorded suzerainty in the eastern part of the island from 1700 to 1768. In
696-487: The fruits of ficus, lithocarpus, aglia, and possibly mischocarpus and pometia plants. It is also known to eat flowers, small animals, and occasionally eggs. Predators of the common spotted cuscus include pythons , hawks and owls . The common spotted cuscus is hunted for its meat and pelt in New Guinea, but has very little economical influence. Despite hunting, it is still common in New Guinea and most islands, but it
725-410: The hind foot is clawless and opposable. It has thick, woolly fur of varying colours depending on age, sex, and location. Males are typically grey/white or brown/white with splotchy patterns on their back and a white underbelly. Only males have spots. Females are usually white or grey and unspotted. Some completely white individuals are known in both males and females. As the young grow, they go through
754-494: The island). Most central Moluccans consider Seram to be their original ancestral home and it is still known colloquially as Nusa Ina (Mother Island). In the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, Seram was generally within the sphere of influence of Ternate , although it was often ruled more directly by the Ternaten vassal state of Buru . The expedition of António de Abreu (as captain) and Francisco Serrão sighted and explored
783-483: The island; 14 species and subspecies are endemic , including the eclectus , great-billed and Moluccan king parrot , purple-naped and red lories , salmon-crested cockatoo , Seram masked owl , collared , sacred and lazuli kingfishers , long-crested myna , elegant imperial-pigeon , Seram oriole , metallic starlings and grey-necked and Seram friarbirds . The mammals found on Seram include Asian murid rodents as well as Australasian marsupials , including
812-482: The uplift that gives north-central Seram peaks of over 3000 m. On the island, there are important karst areas. In the mountains, near Sawai, there is the cave Hatu Saka, currently the deepest cave in Indonesia (-388 m). In Taniwel district, on the north coast, is the underground river Sapalewa , one of the largest underground rivers on the planet. The population of the island and the neighbouring smaller islands in
841-467: Was affected by the violent inter-religious conflict that swept Maluku province starting in late 1998, resulting in tens of thousands of displaced persons across the province but after the Malino II Accord of 2002 tempers cooled. Seram has been peaceful for many years but towns like Masohi remain informally divided into de facto Christian and Muslim sections. Around 7,000 people belonging to
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