Ruwenzori otter shrew

Ruwenzori otter shrew [1]
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1) [2]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Afrosoricida
Suborder:	Tenrecomorpha
Family:	Potamogalidae
Genus:	Micropotamogale
Species:	M. ruwenzorii
Binomial name
Micropotamogale ruwenzorii (de Witte & Frechkop, 1955)
Ruwenzori otter shrew range

The Ruwenzori otter shrew (Micropotamogale ruwenzorii) is a species of semiaquatic dwarf otter shrew of the family Potamogalidae. ^[3] It is found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda. Otter shrews are shrew-like afrotherian mammals found in sub-Saharan Africa. They are most closely related to the tenrecs of Madagascar. ^[3]

Behavior and habitat

Ruwenzori otter shrews live in the rivers and streams of various biomes, mostly in forests. They also live at various altitudes, ranging from lowland forests just a few hundred meters above sea level to montane forests over 2,000 m (6,600 ft) above sea level. ^[2] Its prey is primarily small animals, such as fish, crabs, worms, insects, and small frogs. It is threatened by habitat loss. ^[2]

References

1. Bronner, G.N.; Jenkins, P.D. (2005). "Order Afrosoricida". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 76. ISBN   978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC   62265494.
2. Stephenson, P.J. (2016). "Micropotamogale ruwenzorii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016 e.T13394A21287768. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T13394A21287768.en . Retrieved 16 November 2021.
3. Everson, K. M.; Soarimalala, V.; Goodman, S. M.; Olson, L. E. (2016). "Multiple Loci and Complete Taxonomic Sampling Resolve the Phylogeny and Biogeographic History of Tenrecs (Mammalia: Tenrecidae) and Reveal Higher Speciation Rates in Madagascar's Humid Forests". Systematic Biology. 65 (5): 890–909. doi: 10.1093/sysbio/syw034 . PMID   27103169.