Giant Otter Shrew

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Giant Otter Shrew
Conservation status
Least Concern
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Afrosoricida Family: Tenrecidae Subfamily: Potamogalinae Genus: Potamogale Du Chaillu, 1860 Species: P. velox
Binomial name
Potamogale velox (Du Chaillu, 1860)

The Giant Otter Shrew (Potamogale velox) is an insectivore that inhabits the Dzanga-Sangha tropical rainforest of Cameroon, where it lives along streams and in swamps. It is the only member of the genus Potamogale. It is characterized by a long, flat tail, which it uses for swimming by sideways undulation, much like a crocodile. The Giant Otter Shrew feeds underwater on frogs, fish, crabs, and mollusks, which it locates with the thick bristles on its snout.It also has aremarkable resemblance to an Otter.

[edit] References

• Vogel (2006). Potamogale velox. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
• Bronner, Gary N.; Jenkins, Paulina D. (November 16, 2005). in Wilson, D. E., and Reeder, D. M. (eds): Mammal Species of the World, 3rd edition, Johns Hopkins University Press, 76. ISBN 0-801-88221-4.