Biology:Madagascan pygmy shrew

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Short description: Species of mammal

Madagascan pygmy shrew
Scientific classification edit
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Eulipotyphla
Family: Soricidae
Genus: Suncus
Species:
S. madagascariensis
Binomial name
Suncus madagascariensis
(Coquerel, 1848)
Madagascan Pygmy Shrew area.png
Madagascan pygmy shrew range
Suncus madagascariensis range map.svg
Madagascan pygmy shrew range in Madagascar
Synonyms

Suncus etruscus (Savi, 1822)

The Madagascan pygmy shrew (Suncus madagascariensis) is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae.[2] It is the only known Malagasy shrew.[1]

Taxonomy

Some taxonomists regard it as conspecific with the widely distributed Etruscan shrew, the smallest known mammal by mass,[1][2] and likely to have been introduced to Madagascar from India or Southeast Asia by humans.[3] It is found in Madagascar and the Comoros, at altitudes from sea level to 1500 m.[1]

Distribution and habitat

It is thought to be more common in the less humid western and southern parts of Madagascar.[1] This shrew may also be present on Socotra.[2] The species is found primarily in forests.

Diet and behaviour

It is presumed to be solitary, nocturnal and insectivorous, like its relatives.[1] The litter size is one or two.[1] It is threatened by logging and other forms of deforestation.[1]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Aulagnier, S.; Hutterer, R.; Jenkins, P.; Bukhnikashvili, A.; Kryštufek, B.; Kock, D. (2017). "Suncus etruscus". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (IUCN) 2017: e.T90389138A22288134. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T90389138A22288134.en. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/90389138/22288134. Retrieved 20 February 2019. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Hutterer, R. (2005). "Order Soricomorpha". in Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M. Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 259. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494. http://www.departments.bucknell.edu/biology/resources/msw3/browse.asp?id=13700275. 
  3. Omar, H.; Adamson, E.A.S.; Bhauur, S.; Goodman, S.M.; Soarimalala, V.; Hashim, R.; Ruedi, M. (2011). Phylogenetic relationships of Malayan and Malagasy pygmy shrews of the genus Suncus (Soricomorpha: Soricidae) inferred from mitochondrial cytochrome b gene sequences . The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 59(2): 237–243.

Wikidata ☰ Q911031 entry