Lesser long-tailed shrew tenrec

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Lesser long-tailed shrew tenrec[1]

Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[2]
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Afrosoricida
Suborder: Tenrecomorpha
Family: Tenrecidae
Genus: Microgale
Species:
M. longicaudata
Binomial name
Microgale longicaudata
Thomas, 1882
Microgale longicaudata range map.svg
Lesser long-tailed shrew tenrec range

The lesser long-tailed shrew tenrec (Microgale longicaudata) is a species of mammal in the family Tenrecidae. It is active at all hours of the day and night, but each individual maintains its own pattern of rest and activity.

Range and Habitat[]

It is endemic to Madagascar. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest. It is threatened by habitat loss.[2]

Description[]

As its name implies, it occupies the ecological niche filled by shrews in other parts of the world. The coat is short, but dense, and quite lacking in the spines so common in this family. The long tail is prehensile. Its body is 5–15 cm long, with the tail being 7.5–17 cm long.

Diet[]

Although it climbs well, it usually mostly forages on the forest floor for soil invertebrates like grubs, worms and small insects.[3]

Reproduction[]

Little is known, but they are believed to produce litters of 2-4 young. They do not appear to hibernate at all.

References[]

  1. ^ Bronner, G.N.; Jenkins, P.D. (2005). "Order Afrosoricida". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 72. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
  2. ^ a b Stephenson, P.J.; Soarimalala, V.; Goodman, S. (2016). "Microgale longicaudata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T13344A97200213. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T13344A97200213.en. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  3. ^ Rasolonandrasana, Bernardin P.N.; Goodman, Steven M. (2006-01-13), "The Influence of Fire on Mountain Sclerophyllous Forests and Their Small-Mammal Communities in Madagascar", Land Use Change and Mountain Biodiversity, CRC Press, pp. 77–88, retrieved 2021-12-05


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