Northern tree shrew, Northern treeshrew
The northern treeshrew (Tupaia belangeri ) is a treeshrew species native to Southeast Asia.
In 1841, the German zoologist Johann Andreas Wagner first used the specific name Cladobates belangeri for treeshrews that had been collected in Pegu during a French expedition to Southeast Asia. These specimens were described by Isidore Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire in 1834 in whose opinion they did not differ sufficiently from Tupaia tana to assign a specific rank.
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DiurnalDiurnal animals are active during the daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. The timing of activity by an animal depends ...
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OmnivoreAn omnivore is an animal that has the ability to eat and survive on both plant and animal matter. Obtaining energy and nutrients from plant and ani...
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CarnivoreA carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of a...
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FrugivoreA frugivore is an animal that thrives mostly on raw fruits or succulent fruit-like produce of plants such as roots, shoots, nuts, and seeds. Approx...
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HerbivoreA herbivore is an animal anatomically and physiologically adapted to eating plant material, for example, foliage, for the main component of its die...
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InsectivoresAn insectivore is a carnivorous plant or animal that eats insects. An alternative term is entomophage, which also refers to the human practice of e...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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ArborealArboreal locomotion is the locomotion of animals in trees. In habitats in which trees are present, animals have evolved to move in them. Some anima...
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AltricialAltricial animals are those species whose newly hatched or born young are relatively immobile. They lack hair or down, are not able to obtain food ...
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ZoochoryZoochory animals are those that can disperse plant seeds in several ways. Seeds can be transported on the outside of vertebrate animals (mostly mam...
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TerritorialA territory is a sociographical area that which an animal consistently defends against the conspecific competition (or, occasionally, against anima...
Among animals, viviparity is the development of the embryo inside the body of the parent. The term 'viviparity' and its adjective form 'viviparous'...
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MonogamyMonogamy is a form of relationship in which both the male and the female has only one partner. This pair may cohabitate in an area or territory for...
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Not a migrantAnimals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents.
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starts withThe Northern treeshrew is a brown colored mammal with short, furless ears and a large, wet nose. By its appearance, the Northern treeshrew reminds “Scrat” from the movie Ice Age. This animal is very similar to long nosed squirrels as well as some of the earliest mammals. Its eyes are large, dark and lashless. The Northern treeshrews exhibit short and inconspicuous whiskers. Their long, bushy tail is curved upwards. These animals are excellent climbers due to the sharp nails and naked pads on their feet.
This species has a rather large natural range across south-eastern Asia, stretching from India and southwestern China to Malaysia, Borneo and the Philippines. The Northern treeshrews generally occupy moist, tropical and subtropical forests, although they can also occur in scrublands as well as oil palm and coconut plantations.
In spite of the common name of this species, the Northern treeshrews are more terrestrial than arboreal. The life of these animals is full of dangers. Although generally diurnal, the Northern treeshrews are practically active during both day and night. They usually forage and rest once every hour during the 24-hour day. The Northern treeshrews escape predators due to using different routes and always being on the move. They have a monogamous mating system, where each of the mates has its own territory, defending it from individuals of its gender. Mates have overlapping home ranges. The Northern treeshrews are extremely nervous and aggressive, meanwhile curious creatures.
As omnivorous animals, the Northern tree shrews feed upon a wide variety of food, although their diet generally consists of insects and fruits, being supplemented by occasional vegetation.
As monogamous animals, the Northern tree shrews form long-lasting relationships, mating for life. Instead of having a specific mating season, these animals breed throughout the year. Gestation period lasts for 41 - 45 days, yielding 1 - 5 hairless babies. Although the young are born altricial and with closed eyes and ears, the female gives birth and raise its offspring in a separate nest, where the babies live alone. The mother lives in a different nest, making short visits of a few minutes to nurse her young. The ears open at 10 days old, while the eyes open at 20 days of age. During the first 35 days of their lives, young tree shrews feed upon maternal milk, after which they are weaned. The age of sexual maturity is 2 months old, although most young leave their mother at 50 - 60 days old. These animals are able to produce offspring of their own at 4 - 5 months old.
A fairly common and abundant species, the Northern tree shrews are not presently threatened.
According to IUCN, the Northern tree shrew is common and widespread throughout its range but no overall population estimate is available. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) and its numbers remain stable.
Due to consuming fruits of some fruit bearing trees, the Northern tree shrews act as key seed dispersers of these plant species.
Social animals are those animals that interact highly with other animals, usually of their own species (conspecifics), to the point of having a rec...