Madagascan pygmy shrew

Madagascan pygmy shrew
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Eulipotyphla
Family: Soricidae
Genus: Suncus
Species: S. madagascariensis
Binomial name
Suncus madagascariensis
(Coquerel, 1848)
Madagascan pygmy shrew range
Madagascan pygmy shrew range in Madagascar

The Madagascan pygmy shrew (Suncus madagascariensis) is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae.[2] It is the only known Malagasy shrew.[1] Some taxonomists regard it as conspecific with the widely distributed Etruscan shrew, the smallest known mammal by mass.[1][2] It is found in Madagascar and the Comoros, at altitudes from sea level to 1500 m.[1] It is thought to be more common in the less humid western and southern parts of Madagascar.[1] This shrew may also be present on Socotra.[2] The species is found primarily in forests, and is presumed to be solitary, nocturnal and insectivorous, like its relatives.[1] The litter size is one or two.[1] It is threatened by logging and other forms of deforestation.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Vololomboahangy, R. & Goodman, S. (2008). "Suncus madagascariensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2010.4. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 8 April 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 Hutterer, R. (2005). "Order Soricomorpha". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M. Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 259. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.


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