Marsupials beyond Sahul: Cuscus Translocations and Human–Animal Relationships on Small Indo-Pacific Islands

Shimona Kealy

Small islands of the Indo-Pacific preserve unique records of human movement, subsistence, and environmental interaction. Among the most intriguing archaeological signals on these islands is the appearance of terrestrial mammals, particularly marsupials, whose presence reflects successful crossings of marine barriers to highly isolated settings. Cuscus (Phalangeridae) are especially prominent in this regard, occurring across numerous islands east and west of New Guinea, with increasing archaeological, zoological, and genetic evidence suggesting an early human role in their island distribution. This paper presents new and re-evaluated evidence for prehistoric cuscus translocations beyond Sahul, as part of a new ARC-funded project. Modern distributional data from Indonesian islands is integrated with archaeological records documenting the first appearance of cuscus in island assemblages. These patterns are examined alongside emerging phylogenetic and biogeographic analyses designed to assess source populations, timing, and likely pathways of movement. Rather than treating animal introductions as isolated or incidental events, this study situates cuscus translocations within broader networks of inter-island connectivity, mobility, and human–animal relationships. By focusing on small islands as critical laboratories for human–environment interaction, early cuscus translocations offer valuable insight into the scale, directionality, and tempo of prehistoric voyaging in the Indo-Pacific, while also contributing to wider debates on early anthropogenic impacts on island ecosystems.