Microgale major (Major, 1896)

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 : 170

23.

Major's Shrew Tenrec

Microgale major

French: Microgale de Major / German: Major-Langschwanz-Kleintenrek / Spanish: Tenrec musarana de Major

Other common names: Major's Long-tailed Shrew Tenrec, Major's Long-tailed Tenrec

Taxonomy. Microgale majori Thomas, 1918 ,

“Ankafina Forest, Eastern Betsileo,” Madagascar. Restricted by R. D. E. MacPhee in 1987 to “Ankafina ... 10 km S of Ambohimahasoa and 3 km W of Tsarafidy town, on extreme western margin of eastern rain forest; Fianarantsoa, Fianarantsoa [Province, Madagascar]; 21°12’S, 47°13’E.”

Microgale majori was considered a synonym of M. longicaudata but was discovered to be distinct from the larger species based on mtDNA studies. Both species are sympatric in some localities. Subsequent phylogenetic analysis of multiple gene loci demonstrated that M. majori is sister to a clade of M. jenkinsae , M. longicaudata , and M. principula . Microgale major: might contain cryptic taxa, so its taxonomy requires reassessment. Monotypic.

Distribution. Northern and Central highlands, W, SW, E & SE Madagascar.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 52-66 mm, tail 102-134 mm, ear 13-17 mm, hindfoot 14-17 mm; weight 5-8 g. Major’s Shrew Tenrec is small, with very long, partially prehensile tail, greater than 170% of headbody length. Dorsum is dark brown, with reddish brown wash; venter is dark gray, with reddish buff wash; and tail is gray-brown above and clearly distinguished from reddish buff below. Fifth digit of hindfootis elongated, only slightly shorter than second digit. Scales on dorsal surface of distal portion oftail are broad, naked, and lack hairs.

Habitat. Humid and humid to sub-humid forests (tolerant of some disturbance) at elevations of 800-2500 m.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. Major’s Shrew Tenrec is presumably terrestrial, scansorial, and semiarboreal based on morphology.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. Major’s Shrew Tenrec is widely distributed and occurs in several protected areas. Its overall population appears to be decreasing, and major threats are habitat loss and fragmentation due to logging activities, use offire for land clearing, and conversion to agricultural land.

Bibliography. Everson et al. (2016), Goodman etal. (2013), MacPhee (1987), Olson, Goodman & Yoder (2004), Soarimalala & Goodman (2011), Stephenson et al. (2016n).

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 and Central highlands, W, SW, E & SE Madagascar.