The pygmy shrew tenrec (Microgale parvula ) is a species of placental mammal in the family Tenrecidae. It is endemic to Madagascar. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane 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.
Nocturnality is an animal behavior characterized by being active during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal",...
An 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...
Among animals, viviparity is the development of the embryo inside the body of the parent. The term 'viviparity' and its adjective form 'viviparous'...
Polygyny is a mating system in which one male lives and mates with multiple females but each female only mates with a single male.
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The pygmy shrew tenrec is a nocturnal hunter, using its keen senses of sight and hearing to find and capture prey. While it may also use scent to find the delicious insects it feasts on, this tiny mammal prefers to utilize the night vision evolution has granted it. Shrew tenrecs in general tend to have very large auditory structures and the pygmy shrew tenrec is no different. Large, swiveling ears listen intently for the minute sounds of insects nearby and diminutive but sharp teeth lash out to capture the tasty morsel.
Like most mammals, this tenrec is polygynous, meaning males mate with two or more females. This is to promote successful and plentiful offspring production. It is still unknown whether sexual selection occurs through male on male competition or through female choice, though given its relations' ways of choosing a mate, it can be assumed that it is done through female choice. Now, the question is simply, what makes the females of this species"go wild"?
