Anathana ellioti
Creators: name: Mittermeier, Russell A.
name: Wilson, Don E.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2018
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Mammalia
Scandentia
Tupaiidae
Anathana
Anathana ellioti

description: 3. Madras Treeshrew <i>Anathana ellioti</i> <b>French:</b> Toupaye d'Elliot / <b>German:</b> Madras-Spitzhornchen / <b>Spanish:</b> Tupaya de Madras <b>Other common names:</b> Indian Treeshrew <b>Taxonomy.</b> Tupaia ellioti Waterhouse, 1850, “hills between Cuddapah and Nel- lox [= Nellore], in what may be termed the Eastern Ghats [= Velikonda Range],” Andhra Pradesh, India. Anathana was subdivided into three spe- cies (A. elliot, A. pallida, and A. wroughtoni) by M. W. Lyon, Jr. in 1913, but J. R. Ellerman and T. C. S. Morrison-Scott in 1966 synonymized them, which was followed by G. B. Corbet and J. E. Hill in 1992 and K. M. Helgen in 2005. Monotypic. <b>Distribution.</b> C to S Peninsular India, from the Satpura Hills E to SW Bihar State. <b>Descriptive notes.</b> Head—body 165-200 mm,tail 150-230 mm, ear 13-15 mm, hindfoot 41-45 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. Three forms (color morphs) of the Madras Treeshrew were originally described as separate species based on minor differences in pelage color, but they were synonymized because they likely intergrade between forms. Form from south-eastern India was described as having reddish brown dorsum and buff feet; form from north-western India was described as having dull grizzled brown dorsum and gray feet; and form from north-eastern India was described as having paler dorsum and buff feet. Overall, the Madras Treeshrew resembles many species of Tupaia but with larger ears and thicker fur. It appears brown with speckles of yellow, black with a reddish tinge. Shoulder stripe and ventral surface are nearly white. <b>Habitat.</b> Most forested areas in peninsular India at elevations up to at least 1400 m. The Madras Treeshew occurs in scrub jungle, dry and moist deciduous forests, and shola forest. <b>Food and Feeding.</b> The Madras Treeshrew primarily forages on the ground among leaf litter, rocks, and crevices and sometimes in trees. Primary food items include insects and some fruit. It opportunistically catches small mammals and birds. <b>Breeding.</b> A breeding pair of Madras Treeshrews defendsa territory and excludes conspecifics. Females have four mammae but probably have one young at a time. <b>Activity patterns.</b> The Madras Treeshrew is diurnal and terrestrial or semi-terrestrial. It is known to be a confident climber, and R. Chakraborty in 2005 observed frequently drinking and bathing. <b>Movements, Home range and Social organization.</b> Home range sizes of Madras Treeshrews are unknown but probably similar to those described for species of Tupaia of similar size. Little is known about densities, but observations of groups consisting of 2-8 individuals have been noted in some isolated populations. <b>Status and Conservation.</b> CITES Appendix II. Classified as Least Concern on The [UCN Red List. The Madras Treeshrew might be locally abundant in specific habitats but not ubiquitous. Large areas of its distribution have been altered by anthropogenic factors, and it has been locally extirpated. The Madras Treeshrew does not appear to be tolerant of human cultivation. <b>Bibliography.</b> Chakraborty (2005), Chorazyna &amp; Kurup (1975), Corbet &amp; Hill (1992), Ellerman &amp; Morrison-Scott (1966), Helgen (2005), Lyon (1913).
description: Published as part of <i>Russell A. Mittermeier &amp; Don E. Wilson, 2018, Tupaiidae, pp. 242-269 in Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 8 Insectivores, Sloths and Colugos, Barcelona :Lynx Edicions</i> on pages 263-264, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6779158