Nesogale talazaci Thomas 1918

10.

Talazac’s Shrew Tenrec

Nesogale talazact

French: Microgale de Talazac / German: Talazac-Kleintenrek / Spanish: Tenrec musarana de Talazac

Other common names: Talzac's Shrew Tenrec

Taxonomy. Microgale talazaci Major, 1896,

“from the forest of the Independent Ta- nala of Ikongo, in the neighbourhood of Vinanitelo, one day’s journey south of Fianarantsoa,” Madagascar. Restricted by R. D. E. MacPhee in 1987 to “50 km SE of Fianarantsoa town and 10 km SSE of Vohitrafeno town, western margin of eastern forest; Fianarantsoa, Fianarantsoa [Province, Madagascar]; 21°45’S, 47°17°E.” Further clarified by M. D. Carleton and D. F. Schmidt in 1990 and P. D. Jenkins and Carleton in 2005 to 21°43’S 47°16’E. Nesogale talazaci forms a clade with N. dobsoni. Monotypic.

Distribution. N, Northern and Central highlands, E & SE Madagascar.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 105-138 mm, tail 103-158 mm, ear 16-21 mm, hindfoot 22-28 mm; weight 32-47 g. Talazac’s Shrew Tenrec is large and has a long tail, generally slightly longer than head-body length. Pelage is short, dense, and soft; dorsum is dark brown; and venter is gray, with reddish buff wash. Eyes and ears are small, and ears project beyond pelage. Limbs are covered with short hair, similar in color to venter. Tail is long and shows no seasonal incrassation (thickening).

Habitat. Humid and transitional humid to dry forests (tolerant of some disturbance) from sea level to elevations of ¢.2300 m.

Food and Feeding. Captive Talazac’s Shrew Tenrec eat species of Orthoptera, frogs, and occasionally Annelida. Smaller species of Microgale are eaten when in pitfall traps, including Cowan’s Shrew Tenrec (M. cowant) and Drouhard’s Shrew Tenrec (M. drouhardi). In captivity, prey is detected by scent and hearing and by digging and nosing among leaf litter and roots on the ground.

Breeding. Female Talazac’s Shrew Tenrecs had improved thermoregulation during pregnancy, and resting metabolic rate increased significantly throughout pregnancy and lactation. In captivity, gestation was estimated at 63 days. One Talazac’s Shrew Tenrec had one litter during her first year in captivity and two in the second year. Litters had 2-3 young (two embryos in wild-caught specimens), and eyes opened at 28 days old.

Activity patterns. Talazac’s Shrew Tenrecs are terrestrial. They forage on the ground and might use sub-surface tunnels. They also can climb among branches oftrees, although there are no forelimb characteristics directly associated with climbing.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List (as Microgale talazaci). Talazac’s Shrew Tenrec has a wide distribution and occurs in many protected areas;its overall population is presumably large, although decreasing. It is apparently intolerant of habitat modification, so habitat loss and fragmentation due to logging, use of fire for forest clearing, and conversion offorests to cultivated land are ongoing threats.

Bibliography. Carleton & Schmidt (1990), Eisenberg & Gould (1970), Everson et al. (2016), Goodman & Jenkins (1998, 2000), Jenkins (2003), Jenkins & Carleton (2005), MacPhee (1987), Olson & Goodman (2003), Salton & Sargis (2008a, 2008b, 2009), Soarimalala & Goodman (2011), Stephenson & Racey (1993b), Stephenson, Racey & Rakotondraparany (1994), Stephenson, Soarimalala & Goodman (2016).