Nimba otter shrew

The dwarf otter shrew ( Micropotamogale lamottei ), also called small - otter shrew is a small mammal belonging to the family of tenrecs ( Tenrecidae ), which is found only in the West African Nimbabergen, on the border of Liberia, the Ivory Coast and Guinea.

Features

The Dwarf Otter Shrew reaches a head-body length of 12 to 15 cm and a weight of 60 to 90 g Then there is the 10 to 12 cm long tail. Her figure is shrew -like with a broad, flat head. The soft fur is gray-brown, the ventral side is not brighter than the sides and back. The legs are short, the first and fifth finger or toe the same length and significantly shorter than the fingers or toes 2 to 4 fingers and toes are connected by webbing, its outer edge and the hand inside edge feature a hem stiff, bristly hairs occupied. The second and third toes are fused together. The tail is round in contrast to that of the Ruwenzori otter shrew ( M. ruwenzorii ) in cross section.

Way of life

The dwarf otter shrew lives in ditches, streams and swamps from the lowlands to heights of 1000 m, eats insects, crustaceans and small fish which it hunts mainly at night, and is a good swimmer, up to 15 can dive minutes. The animals proliferate probably several times a year, but especially during the dry season, when they can make easy prey, as the waters will not cause as much water. After a gestation period of at least 51 days one to four naked and blind young are born in a hidden construction. They get their first hair growth with eleven days, are full hairy at the age of 20 days, open their eyes after 23 days and leave the building after 40 days.

System

Within the otherwise occurring only on Madagascar tenrecs the dwarf Otter Shrew forms, together with the Ruwenzori otter shrew and the Great Otter Shrew ( Potamogale velox ) the subfamily of the otter shrews ( Potamogalinae ).