Bornean smooth-tailed treeshrew
| Bornean Smooth-tailed Treeshrew[1] | |
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| Species: | D. melanura
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| Binomial name | |
| Dendrogale melanura (Thomas, 1892)
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The Bornean Smooth-tailed Treeshrew (Dendrogale melanura) is a species of treeshrew in the Tupaiidae family. It is endemic to Malaysia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.[2]
Description
Head and body length is 5in (13 cm), with tail length 4.5in (11 cm). The body mass is about 1.5oz (43g). Has small body. Upperparts of body are dark brown, meanwhile the underparts of the body is orange-buff with gray bases, and shiny black with reddish streaking along the sides. Has a short snout, with large ear flaps. Prominent orange-brown ring exist around the eyes, with weakly marked facial streaks present on both side of the face, extending from the snout to ears. No shoulder streaks present. The claws are notably sharp. Has a thin tail covered with fine smooth hair and darkening towards the tip.[3] D. m. melanura has darker colour above and more reddish below than D. m. baluensis.[4]
Habitat
D. melanura is a terrestrial species. They are diurnal and predominantly arboreal. Live in evergreen rainforest, which active in mossy trees and on rocky boulders in submontane and montane pristine forest. This species seems to feed predominantly on insect.[4]
Distribution
The species are endemic to Borneo, restricted in the mountains of the north-west above 900m, including the mountain of north-eastern Sarawak, Gunung Kinabalu and Gunung Trus Madi in Sabah. D. m. melanura are recorded from Gunung Dulit, Gunung Mulu and the Kelabit uplands in northern Sarawak and from the Sabah-Sarawak border. Meanwhile, D. m. baluensis are recorded from Gunung Kinabalu and Gunung Trus Madi in Sabah.[4]
Threats and Conservation
This species is listed under data deficient because it have not have been recorded since the early 1970s. The major threats for these species are loss of habitat due to the agricultural expansion and conversion of land to non-tree plantations at lower elevation. This species may warrant listing in Near Threatened or higher. The conservation actions only occur at Crocker Range National Park, Sabah, Malaysia.[5]
References
- ^ Gardner, A. (2005). Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 104–105. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
- ^ a b Template:IUCN2008
- ^ http://www.novelguide.com/a/discover/grze_13/grze_13_00822.html
- ^ a b c Francis, C.M. & Payne, J. (2005).A field guide to the mammals of Borneo. Malaysia: Sabah Society
- ^ http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/full/6405/0
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