Madras Treeshrew

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Madras Treeshrew[1]

Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Scandentia
Family: Tupaiidae
Genus: Anathana
M. W. Lyon, 1913
Species: A. ellioti
Binomial name
Anathana ellioti
(Waterhouse, 1850)[3]
Madras Treeshrew range
Madras Treeshrew range

The Madras Treeshrew (Anathana ellioti), also known as the Indian Treeshrew is a species of treeshrew in the monotypic genus Anathana found in the hill forests of central and southern India. The genus name is derived from the Tamil name of Moongil Anathaan or bamboo squirrel and the species name is after Sir Walter Elliot of the Indian Civil Services in Madras.

This treeshrew is 16.0 to 18.5 cm long with a tail of 16.5 to 19.5 cm. Its dental formula is I 2/3 C 1/1 P 3/3 M 3/3. The dentition is suited for an omnivorous diet.[4]

Rest posture of the Madras Treeshrew.
Rest posture of the Madras Treeshrew.[5]

The Madras Treeshrew is found on the Indian subcontinent south of the Ganges River. Three subspecies have been described — A. e. ellioti of the Eastern Ghats, Biligirirangan and the Shevaroy Hills and other hills of Southern India, A. e. pallida from Central India primarily in Madhya Pradesh and Raipur, and A. e. wroughtoni from the Satpura Range and the Dangs near Bombay. Little is known about the status of these populations.

This species of treeshrew is not particularly arboreal and spends much of its time on the ground or clambering about on rocky terrain in the search of insects and seeds.[6] It is easily separated from the squirrels in the field by the shape and color of the tail and the upward curve in which it is held when walking about.

They have a behaviour of climbing up low slanting trunks and sliding down headfirst.[7] This may be associated with scent marking as many of the Scandentia have scent glands on their throat.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Helgen, Kristofer M. (2005-11-16). in Wilson, D. E., and Reeder, D. M. (eds): Mammal Species of the World, 3rd edition, Johns Hopkins University Press, 104. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. 
  2. ^ CBSG CAMP Workshop, India (2000). Anathana ellioti. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 2006-10-16.
  3. ^ Waterhouse, G. (1850). "Description of a new species of Tupaia discovered in continental India by Walter Elliot Esq". Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1849: 106–108. 
  4. ^ Verma, K. (1965). "Notes on the Biology and Anatomy of the Indian Tree-Shrew, Anathana wroughtoni". Mammalia 29: 289–330. 
  5. ^ Karthikeyan, S. 1992. A Preliminary Study of the Indian Tree Shrew at Yercaud, India. Submitted to WWF-India, TamilNadu state office, Sponsored by WWF-US. Sept. 1992 pages 40
  6. ^ Bora, S. (2002). Anathana ellioti. Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved on 2006-10-16.
  7. ^ Chorazyna, H., G. Kurup. 1975. Observations on the Ecology and Behaviour of Anathana ellioti in the Wild. Contemporary Primatology: 5th International Congress of Primatology: 342-344.