Oryzorictes hova, A. Grandidier, 1870

Russell A. Mittermeier & Don E. Wilson, 2018, Tenrecidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 8 Insectivores, Sloths and Colugos, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 134-172 : 166

7.

Mole-like Rice Tenrec

Oryzorictes hova

French: Oryzoricte taupe / German: Eigentlicher Reiswthler / Spanish: Tenrec topo de los arrozales

Other common names: Fossorial Tenrec, Hova Mole Tenrec, Hova Rice Tenrec

Taxonomy. Oryzorictes hova A. Grandidier, 1870 ,

“Ankaye et Antsianak.”

Restricted by P. Viette in 1991 to Ankay, along the Man- goro River, near Lac Alaotra and Antsiana- ka, region east of Lac Alaotra, Madagascar.

Onryzorictes is regarded as a separate clade to all other members of the Oryzorictinae . A recent combined molecular study of mitochondrial and nuclear genes, and craniometric data by K. M. Everson and colleagues in 2018 has revealed three distinct species respectively in the North, Central, and South of Madagascar. Oryzorictes talpoides known from a record in north-western Madagascar and currently regarded as a synonym of O. hova , may also, on craniodental morphology, habitat differences, and possible geographical isolation, represent a separate species. Further study by K. M. Everson and colleaguesis in progress to formally describe and name these species. Treated here as monotypic.

Distribution. Northern Highlands, N (including Nosy Mangabe I), W (Marovoay region), Central Highlands, E & SE Madagascar.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 95-124 mm, tail 38-62 mm, ear 8-16 mm, hindfoot 11-20 mm; weight 28-59 g. Tail of the Mole-like Rice Tenrec is 40-50% of head—body length. Pelage is short, soft, and dense; dorsum is light to dark brown; and venter is lighter grayish or buffy brown. Surface of broad rhinarium has very short and sparse hairs. Eyes and ears are small and mostly concealed in pelage. Forefeet are broad, with five toes; first and fifth digits are short and nearly equal in length, just reaching base of second and fourth digits; and middle three digits have long, stout claws. Hindfeet are moderately broad, with moderately long claws on middle three digits. Tail is pale in color, short relative to head-body length and naked apart from sparse bristle hairs. As in all members of the subfamily, dental formulais13/3,C1/1,P 3/3, M 3/3 (x2) = 40.

Habitat. Various forest types ranging from humid and transitional humid forests to dry spiny forests, natural marshes, and rice paddies at elevations of 20-1960 m.

Food and Feeding. Stomachs of Mole-like Rice Tenrecs have included species of Annelida, insects, and vegetable matter.

Breeding. Two wild-caught female Mole-like Rice Tenrecs had 3-4 embryos.

Activity patterns. Mole-like Rice Tenrecs are fossorial and terrestrial.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Known predators of the Mole-like Rice Tenrec include owls, such as the Madagascar red owl (7yto soumagner), and a fossorial snake (Pseudoxyrhopus).

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Molelike Rice Tenrec has a relatively wide distribution and occurs in several protected areas; its overall population is presumably large, although decreasing. It is tolerant of some habitat loss but is threatened by drainage of suitable wetland habitat.

Bibliography. Asher & Hofreiter (2006), Eisenberg & Gould (1970), Everson, Hildebrandt et al. (2018), Everson, Soarimalala et al. (2016), Goodman (2003), Goodman & Jenkins (2000), Goodman, Jenkins & Pidgeon (1999), Goodman, Soarimalala et al. (2013), Olson & Goodman (2003), Poux et al. (2008), Salton & Sargis (2008a, 2008b, 2009), Soarimalala & Goodman (2011), Stephenson (1994a), Stephenson, Racey & Rakotondraparany (1994), Stephenson, Soarimalala & Goodman (2016g), Viette (1991).

Figures

1. Lesser Hedgehog Tenrec (Echinops telfairi), 2. Greater Hedgehog Tenrec (Setifer setosus), 3. Tailless Tenrec (Tenrec ecaudatus), 4. Lowland Streaked Tenrec (Hemacenteles semispinosus), 5. Highland Streaked Tenrec (Hemicentetes nigriceps), 6. Large-eared Tenrec (Geogale aurita), 7. Mole-like Rice Tenrec (Oryzorictes hova), 8. Four-toed Rice Tenrec (Oryzorictes tetradactylus), 9. Dobson’s Shrew Tenrec (Nesogale dobsoni), 10. Talazac’s Shrew Tenrec (Nesogale talazact), 11. Montane Shrew Tenrec (Macrogale monticola), 12. Dryad Shrew Tenrec (Microgale dryas), 13. Short-tailed Shrew Tenrec (Microgale brevicaudata), 14. Pygmy Shrew Tenrec (Microgale parvula), 15. Lesser Long-tailed Shrew Tenrec (Mucrogale longicaudata), 16. Drouhard’s Shrew Tenrec (Microgale drouhardi), 17. Taiva Shrew Tenrec (Microgale taiva), 18. Pale Shrew (Tenrec Mucrogalefotsifotsy), 19. Greater Long-tailed Shrew Tenrec (Microgale principula), 20. Cowan's Shrew Tenrec (Microgale cowant), 21. Naked-nosed Shrew Tenrec (Microgale gymnorhyncha), 22. Shrew-toothed Shrew Tenrec (Microgale soricoides), 23. Major's Shrew Tenrec (Microgale major), 24. Gracile Shrew Tenrec (Microgale gracilis), 25. Thomas’s Shrew Tenrec (Microgale thomasi), 26. Grandidier’s Shrew Tenrec (Muicrogale grandidieri), 27. Web-footed Tenrec (Microgale mergulus), 28. Least Shrew Tenrec (Muicrogale pusilla), 29. Dark Shrew (Tenrec Microgalejobihely), 30. Nasolo’s Shrew Tenrec (Microgale nasoloi), 31. Jenkins’s Shrew (Tenrec Microgalejenkinsae)

Distribution. Northern Highlands, N (including Nosy Mangabe I), W (Marovoay region), Central Highlands, E & SE Madagascar.