Madras treeshrew
| Madras treeshrew[1] | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
| Family: | |
| Genus: |
Anathana
Lyon, 1913
|
| Species: |
A. ellioti
|
| Binomial name | |
| Anathana ellioti (Waterhouse, 1850)[3]
|
|
| File:Anathana ellioti map.png | |
| Madras treeshrew range | |
Lua error in Module:Taxonbar/candidate at line 22: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
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 (literally "bamboo squirrel") and the species name is after Sir Walter Elliot of the Indian Civil Services in Madras.
Description
This treeshrew is 16.0 to 18.5 cm long with a tail of 16.5 to 19.5 cm. The nominate race (type locality: Eastern Ghats, Madras. British Museum 50.1.21.5) has the tail coloured like the back, the ground colour above being reddish-brown while the feet and hind legs are buff or ochraceous. The other two races have the tail coloured differently from the back. The race A. e. pallida (type locality: Manbhum, Bengal, collected by Robert Cecil Beavan British Museum 66.12.28.2) has the colour of body above reddish-brown and the feet and hind legs grizzled buffy. Race A. e. wroughtoni (type locality: Mandvi, Surat, collected by R. C. Wroughton British Museum 96.11.7.1) has the colour of body above dull grizzled brownish and the feet and hind legs grizzled greyish.[4] Some later workers lump all the three races.[5]
Its dental formula is 2.1.3.33.1.3.3 × 2 = 38. The dentition is suited for an omnivorous diet.[6]
Some authors have suggested this species could be included within the genus Tupaia, although most have kept the genus separate based on anatomical differences.[7]
Distribution
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[8] 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. They have been reported within the Western Ghats ranges of Wayanad (Periya)[9] and Mahabaleshwar. The northernmost record is from Garhwa district of Bihar.[10] Little is known about the status of these populations as the distribution is patchy, but S. M. Mohnot considered them as "common" in 1975.[11]
Behaviour and ecology
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.[13] 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.[14] This may be associated with scent marking, as many of the Scandentia have scent glands on their throats.
A species of sucking louse Docophthirus acinetus is found only on this species, the genus itself being restricted to hosts in the family Tupaiidae.[15] Endoparasitic microfiliriae have also been described from the species.[16] The Crested Hawk-eagle (Nisaetus cirrhatus) has been known to prey on this tree shrew.[17]
References
<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />
Cite error: Invalid <references> tag; parameter "group" is allowed only.
<references />, or <references group="..." />- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Molur, S. (2008). Anathana ellioti. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 30 December 2008.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 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. September 1992 pages 40
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Sirdesai, V., M. Ali, and M. S. R. Shad. 2013. Crested Hawk-eagle Nisaetus cirrhatus feeding on Madras Treeshrew Anathana ellioti. Indian Birds 8(1):13.
