Overview
Distribution
Range Description
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Geographic Range
All members of the genus Microgale are confined to Madagascar. Microgale dobsoni occurs in eastern and east-central Madagascar on the central high plateau.
Biogeographic Regions: ethiopian (Native )
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Physical Description
Morphology
Physical Description
The mass of this small insectivore varies by season. Without fat reserves, an individual weighs between 34-45g. With fat reserves stored in the tail and body, a single individual in captivity reached 84g. All members of the genus Microgale possess a cloaca (a single opening for the digestive, urinary and reproductive tracts), a trait that is considered primitive for mammals. Microgale dobsoni is shrew-like in general appearance, has a grey-brown back, a grey belly, and a tail almost as long as its head and body. Measurements: Head-Body: 92-114mm; Tail: 102-108mm; Hind Foot: 19-24mm.
Average mass: 37.8 g.
Average basal metabolic rate: 0.315 W.
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Ecology
Habitat
Habitat and Ecology
Systems
- Terrestrial
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Habitat
Microgale dobsoni occurs generally in second growth deciduous forests subjected to seasonal rainfall and cool temperatures during the winter.
Terrestrial Biomes: forest ; scrub forest
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Trophic Strategy
Food Habits
Microgale dobsoni is insectivorous. In captivity, it readily eats insects, earthworms and raw ground meat. In the wild, it probably subsists on a diet of insects supplemented with ant eggs.
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Life History and Behavior
Life Expectancy
Lifespan/Longevity
Average lifespan
Status: captivity: 5.6 years.
Average lifespan
Status: wild: 5.6 years.
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Lifespan, longevity, and ageing
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AnAge
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Reproduction
Reproduction
Very little is known about the reproduction of M. dobsoni in the wild. In captivity, copulation occurs from December to August and young are born from February to May. When M. dobsoni was trapped in the wild during the month of April, no lactating females were captured and none of the animals were fully adult. This suggests that the breeding season is considerably shorter in the wild than in captivity.
Average birth mass: 3.95 g.
Average gestation period: 61 days.
Average number of offspring: 2.67.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male)
Sex: male: 669 days.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female)
Sex: female: 669 days.
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Conservation
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List Assessment
Red List Category
Red List Criteria
Version
Year Assessed
Assessor/s
Reviewer/s
Justification
History
- 2006Least Concern(IUCN 2006)
- 1996Lower Risk/least concern
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Conservation Status
This species of Microgale is not specifically threatened, but the island of Madagascar is rapidly losing much of its endemic fauna due to rapid deforestation of the tropical rainforest. Microgale dobsoni's ability to live in second growth forest may save it from extinction.
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern
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Trends
Population
Population Trend
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Threats
Threats
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Management
Conservation Actions
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Relevance to Humans and Ecosystems
Benefits
Economic Importance for Humans: Negative
None known.
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Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
None known.
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Wikipedia
Dobson's Shrew Tenrec
Dobson's shrew tenrec (Microgale dobsoni) is a species of mammal in the Tenrecidae family. It is endemic to Madagascar. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, plantations, and heavily degraded former forest.[2]
References
- ^ Bronner, Gary N.; Jenkins, Paulina D. (16 November 2005). "Order Afrosoricida (pp. 71-81)". In Wilson, Don E., and Reeder, DeeAnn M., eds. Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2 vols. (2142 pp.). pp. 73. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494. http://www.bucknell.edu/msw3.
- ^ a b Afrotheria Specialist Group (Tenrec Section), Andrianjakavelo, V., Raherisehena, M. & Goodman, S. (2008). Microgale dobsoni. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 29 December 2008.
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