Thomas’s shrew tenrec

Taxonomy

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Afrosoricida
Suborder:	Tenrecomorpha
Family:	Tenrecidae
Genus:	Microgale
Species:	Microgale thomasi

Natural range & habitat

Thomas’s Shrew Tenrec is found across eastern and central Madagascar, inhabiting moist lowland and montane rainforests from around 600 m up to 2,000 m elevation. Its distribution includes forested areas such as the highlands around Fandriana, and it persists in some degraded landscapes near forest edges. Although relatively widespread, it is rarely encountered, and details about its exact habitat preferences or resilience to disturbance remain unknown.

Physical traits

Among its relatives, Thomas’s Shrew Tenrec is medium‑sized, with a head‑body length of about 75–112 mm, a tail of 59–80 mm (shorter than body length), and body mass ranging from 20 to 26 g. Its dense dorsal fur is dark reddish‑brown speckled with buff, fading to a lighter grey‑buff underbelly. The tail is countershaded, dark above, pale below, with coarse scale‑like hairs. It has moderate ears (15–21 mm), long foreclaws, and a long muzzle suited for probing leaf litter.

Behavior & lifestyle

This tenrec is terrestrial and nocturnal, sheltering under dense leaf litter or logs during daytime. Although direct observations are limited, radio‑tracking and capture data show individuals can patrol streamside forest corridors up to 1.5 km per night, occasionally feeding on other small tenrec species in pitfall traps. Social behaviour, nesting, movement patterns and thermoregulation remain almost entirely undocumented.

Communication

There have been no studies focusing specifically on how this species communicates. It is assumed, based on comparison with its relatives, that it uses scent marking and tactile cues during brief encounters or maternal interactions. No vocalisations, clicks or ultrasonic signals have been recorded.

Diet in the wild

Thomas’s Shrew Tenrec is insectivorous and has even been observed eating smaller tenrecs in traps. Its diet probably includes insects, worms, and other small invertebrates located in forest-floor habitats. No controlled or gut-content studies have been published.

Reproduction & life cycle

Reproductive biology is poorly known. Two wild-caught individuals were found with two embryos in late wet-season collection, suggesting seasonal breeding, but details such as gestation, litter size, developmental milestones, or parental care remain entirely unstudied.

Threats & conservation status

The species is currently listed as Least Concern by IUCN due to its relatively wide distribution and occurrence in several protected forest areas such as Andringitra, Ranomafana, Mantadia and Andohahela. However, habitat loss from deforestation, mining, fire, and expansion of agriculture poses ongoing threats. Population trends are thought to be decreasing, and much remains unknown about its true conservation status in fragmented landscapes.

This species in captivity

There are no known records of Thomas’s Shrew Tenrec being kept or bred in captivity. It is absent from zoos and private holdings, and no husbandry or care protocols have been developed. Its adaptability to captivity remains completely unexplored.