Mindanao treeshrew

The Philippines or Mindanao - shrews ( Urogale everetti ) is a mammal of the family tree shrews ( Tupaiidae ) and the only member of the genus Urogale. The scientific species name honors the British collector Alfred Hart Everett ( 1848-1898 ).

Description

From other shrews species it is distinguished by the elongated snout and bushy, uniformly hairy tail. The fur is brownish in color at the top, often an orange shoulder stripe present, the underside is orange - reddish. With a body length 17-22 inches and weighing around 350 grams, it is one of the largest species of its family. The life expectancy of these animals can be up to 12 years.

Distribution and habitat

The Philippines - shrews is located on the island of Mindanao and smaller offshore islands belonging to the Philippines. Apart from two species on the island of Palawan is the only living on this island group Art The habitat of these animals are more dense bush and forest areas, especially near rivers. You can climb well, but also run fast and keep both on trees as well as on the ground. Like most shrews are diurnal.

Food

The eckzahnähnlichen incisors indicate that this species to a greater extent a carnivore than other shrews. Their diet consists of insects, earthworms, small vertebrates such as mice or lizards, but also fruits.

Reproduction

They build their nest on the ground or in crevices. After about eight weeks of gestation, the female gives birth to one or two pups. Like other shrews suckle their young mothers rarely, every one to two days. With about five weeks, they are weaned.

Endangering

Like many other species of the Philippines Philippines - shrews threatened mainly by habitat loss, which is accompanied by large-scale deforestation. From the IUCN species was long listed as threatened ( vulnerable ), since 2008 it is considered Near Threatened ( least concern ).