Painted treeshrew
The painted treeshrew (Tupaia picta) is a treeshrew species of the family Tupaiidae.[2]
Painted treeshrew | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Scandentia |
Family: | Tupaiidae |
Genus: | Tupaia |
Species: | T. picta[2] |
Binomial name | |
Tupaia picta[2] Thomas, 1892 | |
Painted treeshrew range |
The first specimen was described by Oldfield Thomas and was part of a zoological collection from northern Borneo obtained by the British Museum of Natural History.[3]
Characteristics
The painted treeshrew has a body length of a little bit over 7 inches (18.5 centimeters) and a slightly shorter tail length, making it one of the smaller treeshrews in its genus. Most of its body is a rather dull color compared to other related species, consisting of mostly grayish olive, with a few yellow spots. However, its chin and chest are brighter colored, consisting of mostly orange and yellow. It also has a black stripe on its back.[3]
Distribution and habitat
The painted treeshrew is endemic to Borneo and inhabits the forests of Brunei, Kalimantan, and Sarawak. It usually lives at lower elevations, below 300 meters, but some specimens have been found at elevations hundreds of meters higher. Although the painted treeshrew is not a threatened species, it still suffers from loss of habitat.[1]
Behaviour and ecology
The painted treeshrew's diet consists mainly of fruits and insects.
References
- Cassola, F. (2016). "Tupaia picta". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T41499A22279973.
- Helgen, K.M. (2005). "Tupaia picta". 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. 108. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
- Thomas, O. (1892). "On some new Mammalia from the East-Indian Archipelago". The Annals and Magazine of Natural History. 6 (9): 250–254.