Not to be mistaken for the North African side dish couscous, the Ground Cuscus is a slow-moving marsupial found on the islands of New Guinea, Yapen, Misool, Salawati and Aru. Most mornings, the Ground Cuscus undertakes its favourite activity: soaking up the hot sun outside its burrow.

Regarded as a solitary species, this creature is different from all other phalangerids (nocturnal marsupials), in that it appears as comfortable at ground level as it is in trees. When under threat, the Ground Cuscus stands up on its hind legs and lashes out with its forelimbs while barking and hissing furiously at its opponent. Making its home in caves and trees, this loveable rogue is also known as madaw, ket-ketm, or kñm in the Kalam language of Papua New Guinea.