Ruwenzori otter shrew

The Ruwenzori otter shrew (Micropotamogale ruwenzorii) is a species of semiaquatic dwarf otter shrew of the family Potamogalidae.^[3] It is found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda. Otter shrews are shrew-like afrotherian mammals found in sub-Saharan Africa. They are most closely related to the tenrecs of Madagascar.^[3]

Ruwenzori otter shrew[1]
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[2]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Afrosoricida
Suborder:	Tenrecomorpha
Family:	Potamogalidae
Genus:	Micropotamogale
Species:	M. ruwenzorii
Binomial name
Micropotamogale ruwenzorii (de Witte & Frechkop, 1955)
Ruwenzori otter shrew range

Behavior and habitat

Ruwenzori otter shrews live in the rivers and streams of various biomes, mostly in forests. They also live at various altitudes, ranging from lowland forests just a few hundred meters above sea level to montane forests over 2,000 m (6,600 ft) above sea level.^[2] Its prey is primarily small animals, such as fish, crabs, worms, insects, and small frogs. It is threatened by habitat loss.^[2]

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. 76. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
2. Stephenson, P.J. (2016). "Micropotamogale ruwenzorii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T13394A21287768. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T13394A21287768.en. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
3. Everson, K. M.; Soarimalala, V.; Goodman, S. M.; Olson, L. E. (2016). "Multiple Loci and Complete Taxonomic Sampling Resolve the Phylogeny and Biogeographic History of Tenrecs (Mammalia: Tenrecidae) and Reveal Higher Speciation Rates in Madagascar's Humid Forests". Systematic Biology. 65 (5): 890–909. doi:10.1093/sysbio/syw034. PMID 27103169.