Madagascan pygmy shrew | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Eulipotyphla |
Family: | Soricidae |
Genus: | Suncus |
Species: | S. madagascariensis
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Binomial name | |
Suncus madagascariensis (Coquerel, 1848)
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Madagascan pygmy shrew range | |
Madagascan pygmy shrew range in Madagascar | |
Synonyms | |
Suncus etruscus (Savi, 1822) |
The Madagascan pygmy shrew (Suncus madagascariensis) is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae.[2] It is the only known Malagasy shrew.[1]
Some taxonomists regard it as conspecific with the widely distributed Etruscan shrew, the smallest known mammal by mass,[1][2] and likely to have been introduced to Madagascar from India or Southeast Asia by humans.[3] It is found in Madagascar and the Comoros, at altitudes from sea level to 1500 m.[1]
It is thought to be more common in the less humid western and southern parts of Madagascar.[1] This shrew may also be present on Socotra.[2] The species is found primarily in forests.
It is presumed to be solitary, nocturnal and insectivorous, like its relatives.[1] The litter size is one or two.[1] It is threatened by logging and other forms of deforestation.[1]
Suncus madagascariensis |
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