Lesser long-tailed shrew tenrec

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.

Lesser long-tailed shrew tenrec[1]
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[2]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Afrosoricida
Suborder:	Tenrecomorpha
Family:	Tenrecidae
Genus:	Microgale
Species:	M. longicaudata
Binomial name
Microgale longicaudata Thomas, 1882
Lesser long-tailed shrew tenrec range

Range and Habitat

It is endemic to Madagascar. Its natural habitats are subtropical and tropical moist lowland and montane forests.^[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. 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, doi:10.1201/9781420002874-6, ISBN 9780429125218, retrieved 2021-12-05