Shrew Kleintenrek

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Shrew Kleintenrek
Systematics
without rank: Afroinsectiphilia
Order : Tenrecus (Afrosoricida)
Family : Tenreks (Tenrecidae)
Subfamily : Travel treks (Oryzorictinae)
Genre : Kleintenreks ( Microgale )
Type : Shrew Kleintenrek
Scientific name
Microgale soricoides
Jenkins , 1993

The shrew Kleintenrek ( Microgale soricoides ) or Shrew Kleintenrek is a species of mammal from the genus of Kleintenreks within the Tenrek family . Both the scientific and the common name refer to the general shrew-like shape with a spindle-shaped body and a long, narrow head tapering to a point. But the front teeth, which differ a little from other Kleintenreks, are similar to those of the shrews. The animals are widespread in eastern Madagascar and inhabit forests in middle and higher mountain ranges. They may live climbing trees, but their way of life is largely unexplored. The species was scientifically introduced in 1993. Their population is classified as not threatened.

features

Habitus

The Spitzmaus-Kleintenrek is a medium-sized representative of the Kleintenreks. In nine measured animals from the Mantadia Andasibe National Park in the central part of Madagascar , the head-trunk length was 7.7 to 8.6 cm and the tail length 8.0 to 8.8 cm. In contrast, eleven individuals from the Anjanaharibe and Marojejy massifs in the north of the island had a head-trunk length of 8.5 to 10.3 cm and a tail length of 8.4 to 10.1 cm. The body weight varied from 16 to 24.5 g. In eight animals from the Anosyenne Mountains in south-east Madagascar, the corresponding values ​​were 7.9 to 8.9 cm, 9.1 to 10.1 cm and 14 to 22 g. All in all, they are strongly built animals with a tail of the same length or slightly longer than the rest of the body. Like all representatives of the Kleintenrek, the shrew Kleintenrek has a spindle-shaped body with strong, short limbs and a long, narrow head with a pointed snout. The ears are 12 to 17 mm long. The back fur is soft and brown in color, sometimes with a gray tinge. The individual hairs are colored gray for about seven eighths of their length, the tips appear light yellowish brown. Guide hairs become a little longer and stand out due to their black color. The belly is usually tinted yellowish-brown. Here single hairs have gray bases and light yellowish brown, sometimes reddish brown tips. On the sides, the color of the back merges with that of the underside. The tail is gray-brown on top and a little lighter on the underside. In some individuals it is clearly two-colored, the tip can sometimes also be whitish. The hands and feet each have five clawed rays. Their upper sides are yellowish-brown in color, the phalanges of the fingers and toes are lighter. The length of the hind foot varies from 16.7 to 18.5 mm. In females, there are zero to two pairs of teats in the chest and / or abdominal region and one to two pairs in the groin.

Skull and dentition features

The skull is moderately large and robust, its greatest length is 25.1 to 26.7 mm, the greatest width on the brain skull is 10.8 to 12.7 mm. The rostrum has a rather broad structure and is less drawn out, the entire posterior section of the skull appears very short, but bulges prominently. In contrast to numerous other Kleintenreks, the middle jawbone is larger than the upper jaw. The zygomatic arch is not closed, the anterior arch attachment on the upper jaw protrudes at an angle of about 90 °. The relatively strong lower jaw has a wide and high crown process. Its front and rear edges tend to curve outwards. The mental foramen lies below the second premolar (P3). The bite is slightly reduced, it includes 40 teeth with the following dental formula : . In the upper dentition, distinctive diastemas appear between the front incisor and the last premolar , so that the teeth do not form a closed row. The entire structure of the front dentition shows striking differences to that of other small tenreks. The front upper and lower incisors are very large, the lower one is up to 3.5 mm long and thus clearly exceeds the following teeth. They are also comparatively larger than other medium-sized Kleintenreks such as the Dobsonian Kleintenrek ( Nesogale dobsoni ) or the Thomas Kleintenrek ( Microgale thomasi ). In addition, they protrude slightly forward ( proodont ). The following incisors are each smaller than the preceding one, the canine of the upper dentition in turn reaches the height of the second incisor. All front teeth have additional cusps on the tooth crowns. The anterior premolar (P2) is very small in both the upper and lower dentition, which is also a striking difference to other small tenreks. The molars have a typical zalambdodontic occlusal surface pattern with three main cusps. In the rest of the structure there are hardly any deviations from the other Kleintenreks. The rearmost upper molar is significantly reduced in size. The length of the upper row of teeth varies between 12.1 and 13 mm.

distribution

Distribution area of ​​the shrew small tenrec

The shrew Kleintenrek is endemic to Madagascar . He inhabits a relatively large area, which stretches as a more or less wide strip from north to south over the eastern part of the island. There it can be found in the moist rainforests and hardwood forests of the middle and higher mountain ranges. The altitude distribution ranges from 750 to 1990 m. Significant localities where the shrew Kleintenrek occurs are from north to south on the Tsaratanana massif in the province of Mahajanga , on the Anjanaharibe massif and on the Marojejy massif , both in the province of Antsiranana , in the mountainous areas of the Mantadia Andasibe National Park in the province of Toamasina , in the forest corridor of Anjozorobe-Angavo in the border area of ​​the provinces Toamasina and Antananarivo , in the forest area of ​​Ranomafana and in the Andringitra mountains in the province of Fianarantsoa and in the Anosyenne mountains in the province of Toliara . Isolated from this main distribution area, another occurrence is documented in the forest area of ​​Tsinjoarivo south of the Malagasy capital Antananarivo in the province of the same name. In its area of ​​distribution, the shrew Kleintenrek occurs sympatricly with several other Kleintenreks , for example with the Lesser Long-tailed Kleintenrek ( Microgale longicaudata ), the Cowan-Kleintenrek ( Microgale cowani ), the Dwarf Lesser Rek ( Microgale parvula ) or the Naked-nosed Kleintenrek ( Microgale gymnorhyncha ). Based on previous observations, the species is relatively common.

Way of life

The way of life of the shrew small tiger has so far not been adequately researched. The animals live in the forest. In both the Anosyenne Mountains and the Andringitra Mountains , an individual was registered in the wood two meters above the ground, which indicates a certain tree-climbing ability. The long front incisors suggest a meat-based diet, and individual trapped animals have been observed eating by smaller representatives of the small tenreks. On the other hand, isotope studies on animals from the forest area of ​​Tsinjoarivo suggest an insectivorous diet. Pregnant females have only been found in November during investigations in the Anosyenne Mountains and on the Marojejy Massif . These carried two to three embryos 17 to 23 mm in length. External parasites have been detected with fleas of the genus Paractenopsyllus and with ticks of the genus Ixodes , internal ones with the single-cell Eimeria .

Systematics

Internal systematics of the Kleintenreks according to Everson et al. 2016
 Microgale  



 Microgale pusilla


   

 Microgale majori


   

 Microgale principula


   

 Microgale jenkinsae


   

 Microgale longicaudata






   

 Microgale mergulus


   

 Microgale parvula




   



 Microgale brevicaudata


   

 Microgale grandidieri



   

 Microgale drouhardi


   

 Microgale monticola


   

 Microgale taiva





   



 Microgale gracilis


   

 Microgale thomasi


   

 Microgale cowani


   

 Microgale jobihely





   

 Microgale dryas


   

 Microgale gymnorhyncha




   

 Microgale soricoides


   

 Microgale fotsifotsy


   

 Microgale nasoloi







Template: Klade / Maintenance / Style

The shrew Kleintenrek is a kind from the genus of microgale ( Microgale ) within the family of tenrecs (Tenrecidae). The Kleintenreks, together with the rice burrowers ( Oryzorictes ) and the representatives of the genus Nesogale, form the subfamily of the Reistenreks (Oryzorictinae). In addition, with more than 20 species, the Kleintenreks represent the most diverse member of the Tenreks. Due to some morphological features, they are also regarded as originally within the family. According to molecular genetic analyzes, the genus originated in the Lower Miocene around 16.8 million years ago, after which it diversified very strongly. Today's representatives are known to adapt to different ways of life, so there are forms that sometimes dig underground, live above ground or climb trees and inhabit water. The majority of the Kleintenreks live in the damp forests of eastern Madagascar, a few species are also found in the drier landscapes of the western part of the island. Within the genus, different kinship groups can be identified both morphologically and genetically. Outwardly, the shrew Kleintenrek is very similar to the Thomas-Kleintenrek ( Microgale thomasi ) and the Cowan-Kleintenrek ( Microgale cowani ), from a genetic point of view it is the sister taxon of a clade consisting of the Pale Kleintenrek ( Microgale fotsifotsy ) and the Nasolo-Kleintenrek ( Microgale nasoloi ).

There are no known subspecies of the shrew lesser tinker. However, there are individual regional differences. For example, animals from the Andringitra Mountains in the south are on average slightly larger than those from the Mantadia Andasibe National Park in the central part of the island.

The first scientific description of the shrew small tenrec was created by Paulina D. Jenkins in 1993. Jenkins used nine individuals from the Mantadia Andasibe National Park in the Toamasina province . The type locality is 15 km north of Perinet and consists of primary rainforest at an altitude of 1100 to 1150 m above sea level. The holotype derived from there comprises a fully grown male that was collected in mid-April 1991 by Christopher J. Raxworthy along with the eight other individuals. The specific epithet soricoides is composed of the family name Soricidae for the shrews (derived from the scientific generic name Sorex for the red- toothed shrews ) and the Greek suffix -οειδής ( -oeidḗs ) for "similar". It refers on the one hand to the general similarity in body shape to the shrews, on the other hand to the extremely large front incisors, which appear similar in the thick-tailed shrews and the white- toothed shrews .

Threat and protection

There are no known major threats to the population of the shrew lesser ternre. In the lower mountain ranges, the destruction of forests through agriculture and logging has a local impact on the stands, which leads to the fragmentation of the landscapes. Due to the wide distribution and the assumed large total population, the IUCN classifies the species in the category “not threatened” ( least concern ). It is represented in numerous nature reserves, for example in the Andringitra National Park , the Ranomafana National Park , the Andohahela National Park , the Mantadia Andasibe National Park and the Marojejy National Park . For the conservation of the shrew lesser ternrex, more in-depth studies of its actual distribution and the size of the population are necessary.

literature

  • Paulina D. Jenkins: A New Species of Microgale (Insectivora: Tenrecidae) from Eastern Madagascar with an Unusual Dentition. American Museum Novitates 3067, 1993, pp. 1–11 ( [2] )
  • Paulina D. Jenkins: Tenrecidae (Tenrecs and Shrew tenrecs). In: Don E. Wilson and Russell A. Mittermeier (eds.): Handbook of the Mammals of the World. Volume 8: Insectivores, Sloths and Colugos. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona 2018, pp. 134-172 (p. 170) ISBN 978-84-16728-08-4

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e Paulina D. Jenkins: A New Species of Microgale (Insectivora: Tenrecidae) from Eastern Madagascar with an Unusual Dentition. American Museum Novitates 3067, 1993, pp. 1-11
  2. ↑ a b c d Steven M. Goodman and Paulina D. Jenkins: The Insectivores of the Réserve Spéciale d'Anjanaharibe-Sud, Madagascar. Fieldiana Zoology 90, 1998, pp. 139-161
  3. ↑ a b c d e f g Steven M. Goodman and Paulina D. Jenkins: Tenrecs (Lipotyphla; Tenrecidae) of the Parc National de Marojejy, Madagascar. Fieldiana Zoology 97, 2000, pp. 201-229
  4. ↑ a b c d e f Steven M. Goodman, Paulina D. Jenkins and Mark Pidgeon: Lipotyphla (Tenrecidae and Soricidae) of the Réserve Naturelle Intégrale d'Andohahela, Madagascar. Fieldiana Zoology 94, 1999, pp. 187-216
  5. ↑ a b c d Paulina D. Jenkins, Steven M. Goodman and Christopher J. Raxworthy: The Shrew Tenrecs (Microgale) (Insectivora: Tenrecidae) of the Réserve Naturelle Intégrale d'Andringitra, Madagascar. Fieldiana Zoology 85, 1996, pp. 191-217
  6. ↑ a b c Paulina D. Jenkins: Tenrecidae (Tenrecs and Shrew tenrecs). In: Don E. Wilson and Russell A. Mittermeier (eds.): Handbook of the Mammals of the World. Volume 8: Insectivores, Sloths and Colugos. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona 2018, pp. 134-172 (p. 170) ISBN 978-84-16728-08-4
  7. ↑ Claudette Patricia Maminirina, Steven M. Goodman and Christopher J. Raxworthy: Les micro-mammifères (Mammalia, Rodentia, Afrosoricida et Soricomorpha) du du massif Tsaratanana et biogeography of Forests de montagnes de Madagascar. Zoosystema 30, 2008, pp. 695-721
  8. ↑ Voahangy Soarimalala and Steven M. Goodman: Diversité biologique the micromammifères non volants (Lipotyphla et Rodentia) dans le complexe Marojejy Anjanaharibe-sud. In: Steven M. Goodman and Lucienne Wilmé (eds.): Nouveaux résultats faisant référence à l'altitude dans la région des massifs montagneux de Marojejy et d'Anjanaharibe-sud. Recherche pour le développement, Série Sciences biologiques, Center d'Information et de Documentation Scientifique et Technique 19, 2003, pp. 231-276
  9. ↑ Voahangy Soarimalala, Landryh T. Ramanana, José M. Ralison and Steven M. Goodman: Les petits mammifères non-volants du “Couloir forestier d'Anjozorobe - Angavo”. In: Steven M. Goodman, Achille P. Raselimanana and Lucienne Wilmé (eds.): Inventaires de la faune et de la flore du couloir forestier d'Anjozorobe - Angavo. Recherche pour le développement, Série Sciences biologiques, Center d'Information et de Documentation Scientifique et Technique 24, 2007, pp. 141-182
  10. ↑ Voahangy Soarimalala, Steven M. Goodman, H. Ramiaranjanahary, LL Fenohery and W. Rakotonirina: Les micromammifères non-volants du Parc National de Ranomafana et du couloir forestier qui le relie au Parc National d'Andringitra. Dans Inventaire biologique du Parc National de Ranomafana et du couloir forestier qui la relie au Parc National d'Andringitra. In: Steven M. Goodman and VR Razafindratsita (eds.): Recherches pour le Développement. Série Sciences Biologiques 17, 2001, pp. 199-229
  11. ↑ Landryh Tojomanana Ramanana: Petits mammifères (Afrosoricida et Rodentia) nouvellement recensés dans le Parc National d'Andohahela (parcelle 1), Madagascar. Malagasy Nature 4, 2010, pp. 66-72
  12. ↑ Steven M. Goodman, Daniel Rakotondravony, Marie Jeanne Raherilalao, Domoina Rakotomalala, Achille P. Raselimanana, Voahangy Soarimalala, Jean-Marc Duplantier, Jean-Bernard Duchemin and J. Rafanomezantsoa: Inventaire biologique de la Foret de Tsinjoarivo, Ambatolampy. Akon'ny Ala 27, 2000, pp. 18-27
  13. ^ A b P. J. Stephenson, Voahangy Soarimalala and Steven M. Goodman: Microgale soricoides. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. e.T62018A97201954 ( [1] ); last accessed on August 6, 2016
  14. ↑ Steven M. Goodman, Christopher J. Raxworthy and Paulina D. Jenkins: Insectivore ecology in the Réserve Naturelle Intégrale d'Andringitra, Madagascar. Fieldiana Zoology 85, 1996, pp. 218-231
  15. ↑ Melanie Dammhahn, Voahangy Soarimalala and Steven M. Goodman: Trophic Niche Differentiation and Microhabitat Utilization in a Species-rich Montane Forest Small Mammal Community of Eastern Madagascar. Biotropica 45 (1), 2013, pp. 111-118
  16. ↑ Michael W. Hastriter and Carl W. Dick: A description of Paractenopsyllus madagascarensis sp. n. and the female of Paractenopsyllus raxworthyi Duchemin & Ratovonjato, 2004 (Siphonaptera, Leptopsyllidae) from Madagascar with a key to the species of Paractenopsyllus. ZooKeys 13, 2009, pp. 43-55
  17. ↑ Dmitry A. Apanaskevich, Voahangy Soarimalala and Steven M. Goodman: A new Ixodes species (Acari: Ixodidae), parasite of Shrew tenrecs (Afrosoricida: Tenrecidae) in Madagascar. Journal of Parasitology 99 (6), 2013, pp. 970-972
  18. ↑ Lee Couch, Juha Laakkonen, Steven Goodman, and Donald W. Duszynski: Two New Eimerians (Apicomplexa) from Insectivorous Mammals in Madagascar. Journal of Parasitology 97 (2), 2011, pp. 293-296
  19. ↑ a b c Kathryn M. Everson, Voahangy Soarimalala, Steven M. Goodman and Link E. Olson: 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), 2016, pp. 890-909 doi: 10.1093 / sysbio / syw034
  20. ^ JF Eisenberg and Edwin Gould: The Tenrecs: A Study in Mammalian Behavior and Evolution. Smithsonian Institution Press, 1970, pp. 1-138
  21. ^ RDE MacPhee: The Shrew Tenrecs of Madagascar: Systematic Revision and Holocene Distribution of Microgale (Tenrecidae, Insectivora). American Museum Novitates 2889, 1987, pp. 1-45

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