Giant Otter Shrew

Giant Otter Shrew
Conservation status
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)
Giant Otter Shrew range

The Giant Otter Shrew (Potamogale velox) is a semiaquatic, carnivorous tenrec. It is found in the main rainforestblock of Central Africa from Biafra to Zambia, with a few isolated populations in Kenya and Uganda. It is found in streams, wetlands, and slowly flowing larger rivers.[2] It is monotypic of the genus Potamogale.

Description

The Giant Otter Shrew is a mammal somewhat similar to an otter in appearance. It is characterized by a long, flat tail, which it uses for swimming by sideways undulation like a fish. It has a muzzle covered with bristles, and flat shielded nostrils. It has dense, soft hair, silky on the tail.[2]

Behavior

The Giant Otter Shrew feeds underwater on crabs, fish, frogs, insects, and mollusks, which it locates with the thick bristles on its snout.[3] It builds burrows among riverbank crevices.[2]

References

  1. ^ Vogel, P. (Afrotheria Specialist Group) (2008). Potamogale velox. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 29 December 2008.
  2. ^ a b c Kingdon, Jonathan (1997). The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals. San Diego: AP Natural World. p. 137. ISBN 0-12-408355-2. 
  3. ^ Bronner, Gary N.; Jenkins, Paulina D. (16 November 2005). "Order Afrosoricida (pp. 71-81)". In Wilson, Don E., and Reeder, DeeAnn M., eds. Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2 vols. (2142 pp.). pp. 76. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494. http://www.bucknell.edu/msw3.