Ruwenzori otter shrew

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Ruwenzori otter shrew [1]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
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 area.png
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]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tenrecoidea</span> Order of mammals

The clade Tenrecoidea or Afrosoricida contains the golden moles of Southern Africa, the otter shrews of equatorial Africa and the tenrecs of Madagascar. These three groups of small mammals were for most of the 19th and 20th centuries regarded as a part of the Insectivora or Lipotyphla. Both groups, as traditionally used, are polyphyletic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tenrecomorpha</span> Suborder of mammals

Tenrecomorpha is the suborder of otter shrews and tenrecs, a group of afrotherian mammals indigenous to equatorial Africa and Madagascar, respectively. The two families are thought to have split about 47–53 million years ago. Potamogalid otter shrews were formerly considered a subfamily of Tenrecidae. The suborder is also presumed to contain the extinct genus Plesiorycteropus, a group of possibly fossorial insectivores similar to aardvarks, which is known to be more closely related to tenrecs of subfamily Tenrecinae than to golden moles of suborder Chrysochloridea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tenrec</span> Family of small mammals

A tenrec is any species of mammal within the afrotherian family Tenrecidae, which is endemic to Madagascar. Tenrecs are a very diverse group; as a result of convergent evolution some resemble hedgehogs, shrews, opossums, rats, and mice. They occupy aquatic, arboreal, terrestrial, and fossorial environments. Some of these species including the greater hedgehog tenrec, can be found in the Madagascar dry deciduous forests. However, the speciation rate in this group has been higher in humid forests.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Giant otter shrew</span> Species of mammal

The giant otter shrew is a semiaquatic, carnivorous afrotherian mammal. It is found in the main rainforest block of central Africa from Nigeria to Zambia, with a few isolated populations in Kenya and Uganda. It lives in streams, wetlands and slow flowing larger rivers. It is the only species in the genus Potamogale. Otter shrews are most closely related to the tenrecs of Madagascar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Web-footed tenrec</span> Species of mammal

The web-footed tenrec, Malagasy otter shrew, or aquatic tenrec is the only known semiaquatic tenrec, and is found in eastern Madagascar, especially in and around Ranomafana National Park. It grows to between 25 and 39 cm, and was once thought to be extinct. It feeds on crabs, aquatic insects, and crayfish. The population is considered vulnerable. It was formerly placed in the monotypic genus Limnogale, but has been moved to Microgale based on molecular data showing it to be deeply nested within the latter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nimba otter shrew</span> Species of mammal

The Nimba otter shrew is a dwarf otter shrew and belongs to the mammal family Potamogalidae. Otter shrews are shrew-like afrotherian mammals found in sub-Saharan Africa. They are most closely related to the tenrecs of Madagascar. This species belongs to the genus Micropotamogale, literally meaning "tiny river weasel". It is native to the Mount Nimba area which rests along the border of Liberia, Guinea, and Côte d’Ivoire in West Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Large-eared tenrec</span> Species of mammal

The large-eared tenrec is a species of mammal in the family Tenrecidae. It is the only species in the monotypic genus Geogale, and the only member of the subfamily Geogalinae. It is endemic to Madagascar where its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and shrubland. It is threatened by habitat loss, but to a lesser extent than was previously thought and is listed by the IUCN as being of "Least Concern".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cowan's shrew tenrec</span> Species of mammal

Cowan's shrew tenrec is a species of mammal in the family Tenrecidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dobson's shrew tenrec</span> Species of mammal

Dobson's shrew tenrec is a species of mammal in the family Tenrecidae. It is endemic to Madagascar. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist forests, plantations, and heavily degraded former forest. On the basis of molecular data indicating that it and Talazac's shrew tenrec form a sister group to the rest of Microgale, these two species were transferred from Microgale to Nesogale in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drouhard's shrew tenrec</span> Species of mammal

Drouhard's shrew tenrec, also known as the striped shrew tenrec, is a species of mammal in the family Tenrecidae. It is endemic to Madagascar. Its natural habitats are subtropical and tropical moist lowland and montane forests.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dryad shrew tenrec</span> Species of mammal

The dryad shrew tenrec, also known as the tree shrew tenrec, is a species of mammal in the family Tenrecidae. It is endemic to Madagascar. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pale shrew tenrec</span> Species of mammal

The pale shrew tenrec, also known as the pale-footed shrew tenrec is a species of mammal in the family Tenrecidae. It is endemic to Madagascar. Its natural habitats are subtropical and tropical moist lowland and montane forests.

Jenkins's shrew tenrec is a species of mammal in the family Tenrecidae. It is endemic to Madagascar. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and shrubland. It is threatened by habitat loss.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pygmy shrew tenrec</span> Species of mammal

The pygmy shrew tenrec is a species of placental mammal in the family Tenrecidae. It is endemic to Madagascar. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist forests. While it is not endangered, its population is slowly declining as it is threatened by habitat loss. This is of concern, though does not yet merit a higher protection level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greater long-tailed shrew tenrec</span> Species of mammal

The greater long-tailed shrew tenrec is a species of mammal in the family Tenrecidae. It is endemic to Madagascar, where its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist forests.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Talazac's shrew tenrec</span> Species of mammal

Talazac's shrew tenrec is a species of mammal in the family Tenrecidae. It is endemic to Madagascar. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist forests. On the basis of molecular data indicating that it and Dobson's shrew tenrec form a sister group to the rest of Microgale, these two species were transferred from Microgale to Nesogale in 2016.

Micropotamogale is a genus of small, otter-like dwarf otter shrews native to riverine habitats of West African rainforests. They feed on aquatic animals and insects they can find and capture. They are afrotherian mammals most closely related to the tenrecs of Madagascar, but are not closely related to shrews or otters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mole-like rice tenrec</span> Animal species belonging to Tenrecidae family

The mole-like rice tenrec, also known as the fossorial tenrec or hova rice tenrec, is a species of mammal in the tenrec family. Like all other tenrecs, it is endemic to Madagascar. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist forests, swamps, freshwater lakes, and irrigated or seasonally flooded agricultural land.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Potamogalidae</span> Family of mammals

Potamogalidae is the family of "otter shrews", a group of semiaquatic riverine afrotherian mammals indigenous to sub-Saharan Africa. They are most closely related to the tenrecs of Madagascar, from which they are thought to have split about 47–53 million years ago. They were formerly considered a subfamily of Tenrecidae.

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. 1 2 3 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. 1 2 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.