Tenrecidae Author Russell A. Mittermeier Author Don E. Wilson text 2018 2018-07-31 Lynx Edicions Barcelona Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 8 Insectivores, Sloths and Colugos 134 172 book chapter 10.5281/zenodo.6808230 e219b7cf-baff-4e8f-8253-d785c8f4e1ab 978-84-16728-08-4 6808230 19. Greater Long-tailed Shrew Tenrec Microgale principula French: Grand Microgale / German: GroRer Langschwanz-Kleintenrek / Spanish: Tenrec musarana de cola larga mayor Taxonomy. Microgale principula Thomas, 1926 , “Midongy-du-Sud, South-east Madagascar.” Restricted by R. D. E. MacPhee in 1987 to “Midongy Atsimo town (500 m) is located deep within eastern rain forest; Fianarantsoa, Farafangana [Madagascar]; 23°35’S, 47°01'E.” According to a recent phylogenetic analysis, M. principula forms a clade with M. jenkinsae , M. longicaudata , and M. majori and is sister to a clade of M. longicaudata and M. jenkinsae . Monotypic. Distribution. NE, Central Highlands, E & SE Madagascar. Descriptive notes. Head-body 69-89 mm, tail 144-171 mm, ear 12-17 mm, hindfoot 17-20 mm; weight 9-14 g. The Greater Long-tailed Shrew Tenrec is medium-sized. Tail is very long and partially prehensile; distal tip with transversely broadened naked scales covering the dorsal surface; and length is greater than twice head-body length. Digits are elongated, and fifth hind digit is only slightly shorter than second digit. Pelage is reddish brown dorsally and gray with buff wash ventrally; color and degree of differentiation between dorsal and ventral color are variable. Habitat. Humid forests at elevations of 500-1875 m but recently documented at lower elevations. Food and Feeding. Diet of the Greater Long-tailed Shrew Tenrec contains species of Orthoptera, Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, Arachnida, and Amphipoda. Breeding. No information. Activity patterns. The Greater Long-tailed Shrew Tenrec is presumably terrestrial, scansorial, and semi-arboreal based on morphology and behavior. It is a good climber, able to leap short distances and scale branches and tree trunks. Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information. Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Greater Long-tailed Shrew Tenrec is widely distributed and occurs in several protected areas. Its overall population appears to be decreasing, and major threats are habitat loss and fragmentation due to logging activities, use of fire for land clearing, and conversion to agricultural land. Bibliography. Everson et al. (2016), Goodman & Jenkins (1998, 2000), Goodman, Jenkins & Pidgeon (1999), Goodman, Soarimalala et al. (2013), Jenkins (2003), MacPhee (1987), Olson & Goodman (2003), Olson, Goodman & Yoder (2004), Soarimalala & Goodman (2011), Stephenson et al. (20160).