Mountain tupajas
| Mountain tupajas | ||||||||||||
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Dendrogals | ||||||||||||
| Gray , 1848 |
The mountain tupajas ( dendrogals ) are a genus of mammals from the family of the shrews (Tupaiidae) with two species:
- the northern mountain tip squirrel or mouse tip squirrel ( D. murina ), which lives in eastern Thailand , Cambodia, and southern Vietnam , as well
- the Borneo mountain shrew ( D. melanura ), which is endemic to Borneo .
With a length of ten to 15 centimeters and a weight of 35 to 55 grams, the mountain tupajas are the smallest shrews. Their upper side is colored black or brown, the underside is lighter. There are also black and white facial drawings on the northern mountain Tupaja. They differ from the other species of pointed squirrel mainly in their tail, which is evenly covered with short, straight hair.
Their habitat are forests at an altitude of up to 1500 meters. They are diurnal tree dwellers who look for food on the lower branches of trees and bushes, mainly insects, but also fruits.
Mountain tupajas usually give birth to two young animals that are only 6 grams naked at birth and completely helpless. Presumably the young of this genus are only rarely suckled. Due to the high-fat milk, however, they grow very quickly and are weaned after just one month and are sexually mature after two months.
The Borneo-Bergtupaja is listed by the IUCN as endangered due to the loss of habitat, the Northern Bergtupaja is considered frequent and not threatened.
literature
- Ronald M. Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World. 2 volumes. 6th edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD et al. 1999 ISBN 0-8018-5789-9 .
