Palawan pointed squirrel
| Palawan pointed squirrel | ||||||||||||
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Tupaia palawanensis | ||||||||||||
| Thomas , 1894 |
The Palawan Shrew Squirrel ( Tupaia palawanensis ) is a mammal in the genus of the real shrew squirrel that occurs in the western Philippines . According to the IUCN , the calamian shrewfish ( Tupaia moellendorffi ), newly described in 1898 and raised at species level in 2005, is a junior synonym .
features
The species reaches a total length of 344 to 365 mm, including a 170 to 178 mm long tail. It has rear feet 43 to 45 mm long and ears 16 to 18 mm long. As with other pointed squirrels, they have a narrow snout, large eyes and a tail that is densely covered with fur. On the upper side, the fur is dark red-brown in color. Characteristic are light-colored stripes behind the ears, slightly towards the top of the neck. The Palawan pointed squirrel shares its territory with various Sunda tree squirrels ( Sundasciurus ), to which it is not related, however. In contrast to these rodents, the species has a well-developed claw on its thumb. In addition, the shrewd squirrel has a full set of canines.
Distribution and way of life
The Palawan pointed squirrel is endemic to the Philippine island of Palawan as well as to smaller surrounding islands. The species can be found in the lowlands and in mountains up to 1,400 m above sea level, whereby the frequency decreases with altitude. The specimens are native to forests and visit bushland and plantations.
The Palawan pointed squirrel usually forages in the morning and afternoon. It mainly eats insects and other invertebrates , which are complemented with soft fruits. The prey rarely consists of vertebrates.
status
In Palawan, the population is slightly affected by changes in the landscape. However, there is no serious threat. There are several protected areas on the island. On the smaller islands, agriculture and mining can have more serious impacts. The IUCN lists the Palawan pointed squirrel as Least Concern .
Individual evidence
- ↑ Don E. Wilson, DeeAnn M. Reeder (Ed.): Mammal Species of the World . A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference . 3. Edition. tape 1 . Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore 2005, ISBN 0-8018-8221-4 (English, Tupaia palawanensis [accessed December 19, 2017]).
- ↑ a b c d Tupaia palawanensis in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2017. Posted by: Kennerley, R., 2017. Accessed December 19, 2017th
- ↑ a b c Heaney et al .: Tupaia palawanensis ( en ) In: Synopsis of Philippine Mammals . The Field Museum, Chicago. 2010. Retrieved December 19, 2017.