Large treeshrew

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Large treeshrew[1]
File:Tupaia tana - Museo Civico di Storia Naturale Giacomo Doria - Genoa, Italy - DSC02515.JPG
Scientific classification
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T. tana
Binomial name
Tupaia tana
Raffles, 1821
File:Large Treeshrew area.png
Large treeshrew range

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The large treeshrew (Tupaia tana) is a mammal species of the family Tupaiidae.[1] It is found on Sumatra and adjacent small islands, as well as in the lowlands and hills of Borneo.[3]

Habitat

Large treeshrews are the most predominantly terrestrial of all treeshrew species. They are usually on the forest floor, the primary location for their foraging, although they spend part of their time in trees.[4] T. tana has been described as mainly terrestrial based on field observations and their morphological traits.[5][6][6][7] Large treeshrews are most abundant in primary tropical rainforest, but are also found in swamp forest and secondary growth forest. T. tana has many potential predators such as the marbled cat, leopard, and clouded leopard.

Large treeshrews contribute to maintenance of their lowland rainforest ecosystem by dispersing seeds.

Morphology, diet and reproduction

T. tana is slightly larger than the common treeshrew (T. glis).[4] The dorsal fur is reddish brown, shading to nearly black at the rear. There is a black stripe running from the neck half to two thirds of the way down the back, until it disappears in the darker posterior fur. The distance from the center of the eye to the tip of the muzzle is more than 37 mm in adults. The body size measurements of this species are: head and body, 165–321 mm; tail, 130–220 mm; hind foot, 43–57 mm. The weight is 154-305 g.[3] T. tana has sensitive hearing and large eyes that give it acute night vision[8] but poor daylight vision.

Their diet consists of earthworms and arthropods such as centipedes, millipedes and beetle larvae, with some fruit.[3] Less favored arthropods include ants, beetles, spiders, cockroaches and crickets.

The average age of reproductive maturity for both males and females is around one year of age. The female almost always gives birth to two altricial young. The fecundity of females is reduced in poor quality territories or during periods of resource scarcity.[9]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Payne, J., Francis, C. M., Phillipps, K. (1985). Field guide to mammals of Borneo. The Sabah Society with World Wildlife Fund Malaysia
  4. 4.0 4.1 Yasuma, S., Andau, M., Apin, L., Yu, F.T.Y., and Kimsui, L. (2003). Identification keys to the mammals of Borneo: Insectivora, Scandentia, Rodentia and Chiroptera. Park Management Component BBEC Programme, Sabah.
  5. Emmon, L. (2000). Tupai: a Field Study of Bornean Treeshrews. University of Carlifornia Press, Berkeley, Los Angeles.
  6. 6.0 6.1 Wells, K., Pfeiffer, M., Lakim, M. B., and Kalko, E. K. V. (2006). Movement trajectories and habitat partitioning of small mammals in logged and unlogged rain forest on Borneo. Journal of Animal Ecology 75(5): 1212–1223.
  7. Sargis, E. J. (2001). A preliminary qualitative analysis of the axial skeleton of tupaiids (Mammalia, Scandentia): functional morphology and phylogenetic implications. Journal of Zoology 253(4): 473–483.
  8. http://facweb.bhc.edu/academics/science/harwoodr/geol102/Study/humans.htm
  9. Munshi-South J (2008). Female-Biased Dispersal and Gene Flow in a Behaviorally Monogamous Mammal, the Large treeshrew (Tupaia tana). PLoSONE 3(9): e3228. oi:10.1371/journal.pone.0003228