With reduced eye size, visual cues are not thought to be very important to these animals. Microgale relies mainly on tactile, chemical, and auditory communication.
Vocal communication ranges from a soft squeak to a trill. Wails are associated with submissive behavior. Squeaks are used when animals are in a defensive mode, and a buzzing is often produced during attacks.
Tactile communication includes nose to nose contact, nose to ear, nose to genital region, as well as full body rubbing.
Chemical communication may be involved in the practice of saliva spreading, which has been observed in tenrecs. Although there is little research on chemical communication in these animals, it is thought that chemical signals are also involved when the Microgale touches its nose to glandular areas on its body, such as the ear, forehead, or cloaca.
Communication Channels: tactile ; acoustic ; chemical
Perception Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic ; chemical
These animals are not known to be a conservation concern. Although not evaluated, it is likely that they are somewhat vulnerable to habitat loss, as are many other animals in Madagascar.
US Federal List: no special status
CITES: no special status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern
No economic importance has been documented for these animals.
No economic importance for this species has been documented.
M. longicaudata acts as both prey and predator in its ecosystem, although any influential role is either not present or remains undiscovered at this time. M. longicaudata is known to serve as host for several parasites, including Eimeria, Babesia (a vertebrate blood cell parasite), L.(M.) calcaratua, L.(A.) papillosus, and L.(M.) uniformis.
Species Used as Host:
Mutualist Species:
Commensal/Parasitic Species:
Members of the genus Microgale are known to be insectivorous. Specifically, M. longicaudata is known to consume various invertebrates including Coleoptera (beetles), Hymenoptera (bees, wasps,and ants), Orthoptera (grasshoppers), Arachnida (spiders and ticks), and Amphipoda (flat bodied crustaceans).
Animal Foods: insects; terrestrial non-insect arthropods; aquatic crustaceans
Primary Diet: carnivore (Insectivore )
Microgale longicaudata is endemic to Madagascar. This species is specifically located in the Northern and Eastern parts of the country, ranging from the Parc National de la Montange d' Ambre at 12 degrees South to the Parc National d'Andonhahela at 25 degrees South.
Biogeographic Regions: ethiopian (Native )
Other Geographic Terms: island endemic
Long-tailed tenrecs, M.longicaudata, are terrestrial mammals with a preference for areas of dense vegetation. They can be found in various habitats located across Madagascar, including Eastern humid forest, Central highlands, the mountainous Northern highlands, Sambirano lowland forest, Western deciduous dry forest, and the isolated humid forest of Montange d' Ambre. They inhabit elevations of from 440 m above sea level to 1990 m.
Range elevation: 440 to 1990 m.
Average elevation: 1250 m.
Habitat Regions: terrestrial
Terrestrial Biomes: forest ; rainforest ; mountains
Information is unknown.
M. longicaudata is small, weighing only 5 to 12 g, and measuring 75 to 158 mm in total length. Like other members of the genus, M. longicaudata has an exceeding long, prehensile tail. The tail is usually is 1.5 to 2.6 times the length of the body. The tail is composed of 47 vertebrae, which is more than any other mammal besides the pangolins. The tail is used by these animals in their climbing and richocheting locomotion. To aid in their semi-arboreal and scansorial lifestyle, M. longicaudata also possess elongated hindfeet and digits.
Although data on this particular species are lacking, the genus Microgale is known to possess coats composed of a soft dark brown to black fur on the back with a gray or lead colored belly.
Since the testes, which have a volume of 50 mm^3, are found in the abdominal area and do not descend into a scrotum, there is very little to rely on for external physical cues to determine sex. Males and females are almost indistinguishable from one another.
The animals are very much like shews, except they have ears are conspicuous, and project above the fur. Their dental formula is 3/3 1/1 3/3 3/3.
Range mass: 5 to 12 g.
Average mass: 7 g.
Range length: 75 to 158 mm.
Sexual Dimorphism: sexes alike
Other Physical Features: endothermic ; bilateral symmetry
Although specific information for M. longicaudata is not available, members of the genus Microgale fall prey to large reptiles, birds, and mammals. M. taiva is known to occasionally consume congeners M. longicaudata, M. principula, and M. cawani. However, there were only seven instances of this cannibalism, which occurred in pitfall trapping and may have resulted from the absence of an escape, rather than the true nature of M. taiva.
Although not much is known about the mating system of M. longicaudata, some information is available for their relatives. The mating system apparently varies across the genus: M. dobsoni males are known to pair up with a female only during the breeding season, whereas M. talazaci males may establish a more permanent male/female relationship. Mating may be polygynous or monogamous.
Mating System: monogamous ; polygynous
Information on the reproductive behaviors of M. longicaudata is not available. However, some data exist for other species in the genus. One congener, M. dobsoni, has a spring and summer breeding season, although another congener, M. talazaci is known to have a breeding season that is 1 to 2 months longer. Parturition in members of the genus Microgale occurs from late November through early December with the start of the rainy season. These animals become sexually mature before their adult dentition is present and have 6 to 8 mammae. They are known to have a maximum litter size of 2 offspring.
Breeding interval: The breeding interval of M. longicaudata is not known.
Breeding season: The breeding season for this species has not been determined.
Range number of offspring: 2 (high) .
Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; viviparous
Details on the parental care of these animals are lacking. However, as mammals, we know that females provide their young with milk, grooming, and protection during the early part of their lives. The role of males in parental care of these animals is not known.
Parental Investment: no parental involvement; female parental care ; pre-fertilization (Protecting: Female); pre-hatching/birth (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female); pre-weaning/fledging (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female)
The lesser long-tailed shrew tenrec (Microgale longicaudata) is a species of mammal in the family Tenrecidae. It is active at all hours of the day and night, but each individual maintains its own pattern of rest and activity.
It is endemic to Madagascar. Its natural habitats are subtropical and tropical moist lowland and montane forests.[2]
As its name implies, it occupies the ecological niche filled by shrews in other parts of the world. The coat is short, but dense, and quite lacking in the spines so common in this family. The long tail is prehensile. Its body is 5–15 cm long, with the tail being 7.5–17 cm long.
Although it climbs well, it usually mostly forages on the forest floor for soil invertebrates like grubs, worms and small insects.[3]
Little is known, but they are believed to produce litters of 2-4 young. They do not appear to hibernate at all.
The lesser long-tailed shrew tenrec (Microgale longicaudata) is a species of mammal in the family Tenrecidae. It is active at all hours of the day and night, but each individual maintains its own pattern of rest and activity.
