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Pygmy shrew tenrec
First described in 1934 by Grandidier, the Pygmy Shrew Tenrec is unique among its relatives for being one of the smallest species in the group, sometimes weighing as little as 3 grams, and possessing one of the broadest elevational ranges, spanning nearly 2,000 meters.
Taxonomy
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Afrosoricida |
| Suborder: | Tenrecomorpha |
| Family: | Tenrecidae |
| Genus: | Microgale |
| Species: | Microgale parvula |
Natural range & habitat
The Pygmy Shrew Tenrec is endemic to Madagascar and is recorded from the southern tip to the northern peninsula, making it one of the few insectivore-like mammals with such a wide latitudinal distribution on the island. It resides exclusively in intact moist lowland and montane rainforests at elevations ranging from about 100 to nearly 1,990 m. It is rarely found in degraded or fragmented habitats, indicating a strong reliance on primary or undisturbed woodland.
Physical traits
True to its name, this tenrec is extremely small, at just 50–65 mm in head‑body length and typically weighing between 3 and 4 g, among the smallest of all shrew tenrecs. Its fur is uniformly soft and dark brown above, fading to a lighter greyish underside. The tail is nearly as long as its body. It has proportionally large ears and whiskers suited to nocturnal insect foraging.
Behavior & lifestyle
The Pygmy Shrew Tenrec is nocturnal, using its acute hearing and vision to hunt prey among leaf litter. It is solitary and highly metabolic, likely requiring frequent feeding through the night. While observed mostly at ground level, little is known about its exact activity rhythms, movement range, or resting habits.
Communication
No direct observations exist of communication behaviors in this species. It is assumed to use scent and tactile cues in brief social contexts, e.g., maternal care, similar to other relatives, but vocalisation or ultrasonic data are lacking.
Diet in the wild
As with other shrew tenrecs, this species is insectivorous, feeding on small invertebrates such as insects and larvae found in forest litter. Although no gut-content or behavioural studies have been published, its feeding ecology is inferred from its morphology and the diets of related species.
Reproduction & life cycle
Very little is known. Museum specimens suggest that females may breed during the wet season, and typical shrew tenrec patterns may apply, small litters of altricial young born after a gestation of roughly two months. However, no specific data on litter size, gestation or developmental milestones have been reported.
Threats & conservation status
The IUCN currently lists the Pygmy Shrew Tenrec as Least Concern, citing its wide distribution and presumed large population. However, habitat loss remains a major threat since it depends on intact forest. Population trends have not been formally assessed, and continued habitat degradation could impact numbers over time.
This species in captivity
There are no records of this species being kept or bred in captivity. It is absent from zoos and private collections, and no husbandry protocols have been developed, leaving captive biology unknown.