Treeshrew: small Southeast Asian mammals of the order Scandentia

Physical characteristics

Treeshrews are generally small, with slender bodies, long snouts and well-developed eyes. Fur coloration ranges from grey-brown to reddish; tails are often long and may be used for balance. Their dentition is adapted for an omnivorous diet, and skull features reflect a mixture of insectivorous and frugivorous habits. Many species are agile climbers but several spend substantial time foraging on the forest floor.

Distribution, habitat and diet

Species inhabit a variety of forest types, from lowland rainforest to montane woodland. They exploit understory vegetation, tree trunks and ground litter. Diets are flexible and may include insects and other arthropods, fruit, seeds, nectar and small vertebrates. Some treeshrews feed on large-fruited forest plants and are recorded consuming items such as Rafflesia fruit where available. A few species are known to consume naturally fermented nectars and tolerate low levels of ethanol in their food.

Behavior and life history

Behavior varies by species; many treeshrews are diurnal, active, and territorial. Communication commonly involves scent marking, visual displays and vocalizations. Reproduction typically produces small litters; offspring are born relatively undeveloped and depend on maternal care during early life. Foraging behavior combines active searching on the ground with rapid movement among branches and creepers.

Classification, research and conservation

Treeshrews were historically grouped with insectivorous mammals but are now placed in their own order. Comparative anatomical and molecular studies suggest they occupy a position near primates and dermopterans in mammal phylogeny, making them informative for evolutionary research. Certain species have been used in biomedical and neurological studies because of their physiology and brain organization. Conservation status varies: although some species remain common, many are affected by habitat loss, fragmentation and hunting, and several have restricted ranges that make them vulnerable to environmental change.

Notes

• The group name is misleading: treeshrews are neither members of the shrew family nor uniformly arboreal.
• The two recognized families differ in morphology and genetics; the small family Ptilocercidae contains species distinct from the larger Tupaiidae.
• For general overviews of their taxonomy and regional occurrence, see resources on the order Scandentia and regional faunal surveys of Southeast Asia.