Microgale principula, Thomas, 1926

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 : 169

19.

Greater Long-tailed Shrew Tenrec

Microgale principula

French: Grand Microgale / German: GroRer Langschwanz-Kleintenrek / Spanish: Tenrec musarana de cola larga mayor

Taxonomy. Microgale principula Thomas, 1926 ,

“Midongy-du-Sud, South-east Madagascar.” Restricted by R. D. E. MacPhee in 1987 to “Midongy Atsimo town (500 m) is located deep within eastern rain forest; Fianarantsoa, Farafangana [Madagascar]; 23°35’S, 47°01'E.”

According to a recent phylogenetic analysis, M. principula forms a clade with M. jenkinsae , M. longicaudata , and M. majori and is sister to a clade of M. longicaudata and M. jenkinsae . Monotypic.

Distribution. NE, Central Highlands, E & SE Madagascar.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 69-89 mm, tail 144-171 mm, ear 12-17 mm, hindfoot 17-20 mm; weight 9-14 g. The Greater Long-tailed Shrew Tenrec is medium-sized.

Tail is very long and partially prehensile; distal tip with transversely broadened naked scales covering the dorsal surface; and length is greater than twice head-body length. Digits are elongated, and fifth hind digit is only slightly shorter than second digit. Pelage is reddish brown dorsally and gray with buff wash ventrally; color and degree of differentiation between dorsal and ventral color are variable.

Habitat. Humid forests at elevations of

500-1875 m but recently documented at lower elevations.

Food and Feeding. Diet of the Greater Long-tailed Shrew Tenrec contains species of Orthoptera, Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, Arachnida, and Amphipoda.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. The Greater Long-tailed Shrew Tenrec is presumably terrestrial, scansorial, and semi-arboreal based on morphology and behavior. It is a good climber, able to leap short distances and scale branches and tree trunks.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Greater Long-tailed 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 of fire for land clearing, and conversion to agricultural land.

Bibliography. Everson et al. (2016), Goodman & Jenkins (1998, 2000), Goodman, Jenkins & Pidgeon (1999), Goodman, Soarimalala et al. (2013), Jenkins (2003), MacPhee (1987), Olson & Goodman (2003), Olson, Goodman & Yoder (2004), Soarimalala & Goodman (2011), Stephenson et al. (20160).

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. NE, Central Highlands, E & SE Madagascar.