Microgalejenkinsae, Soarimalala, 2004

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 : 172

31.

Jenkins’s Shrew

Tenrec Microgalejenkinsae

French: Microgale de Jenkins / German: Jenkins-Kleintenrek / Spanish: Tenrec musarana de Jenkins

Taxonomy. Microgalejenkinsae Goodman & Soarimalala, 2004 ,

“Madagascar: Province de Toliara, Forét des Mikea, 9-5 km west Ankiloaka, 22°46-7’S 43°31-4’E, elevation about 80 m above sea level.”

Microgale jenkinsae forms a clade with M. longicaudata and is part of a larger clade of long-tailed shrew tenrecs comprising M. longicaudata , M. majori , and M. principula . Monotypic.

Distribution. SW Madagascar (Mikea Forest).

Descriptive notes. Head—body 59-62 mm, tail 79 mm and 81 mm, ear 18 mm, hindfoot 14 mm and 15 mm; weight 5 g (measurements of two subadults). Jenkins’s Shrew Tenrec is very small. Tail is 130-140% of head-body length. Ears are notably large relative to body size. Dorsal pelage is relatively dense and soft, comprising a mix of black and tannish brown hairs giving an agouti appearance, grading into paler venter that consists of pale tan to silvery white hairs. Tail is dark brown above and tannish brown below.

Habitat. Dense understory in partially disturbed lowland dry spiny forests at elevations of 80 m.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. Jenkins’s Shrew Tenrec is presumably terrestrial.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Endangered on The IUCNRed List.Jenkins’s Shrew Tenrec is known only from two specimens at the type locality, and its overall population is probably decreasing. It is believed to be geographically restricted and has an estimated extent of occurrence of only 1643 km?®. Specific habitat where it has been found is in decline, and major threats are clearing offorest for agricultural land and fire.

Bibliography. Everson et al. (2016), Goodman & Soarimalala (2004), Goodman et al. (2013), Soarimalala & Goodman (2011), Stephenson et al. (2016q).

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. SW Madagascar (Mikea Forest).