Wildlifeof India
Madras Treeshrew
Pangolins, Hares, Pikas & Shrews
Photo: David V. Raju · CC BY-SA 4.0 (May be cropped or resized)
Anathana ellioti
Basic stats
Diet
Omnivorous: insects and seeds
Habitat
Hill forest and rocky terrain
Range
Endemic to India: hill forests of central and southern India, south of the Ganges
Size
Head and body 16–18.5cm; tail 16.5–19.5cm
The Madras treeshrew, or Indian treeshrew, is the only species in its genus. It is 16–18.5 cm long with a tail of 16.5–19.5 cm, reddish brown above in the nominate race, with buff or ochraceous feet and hind legs. Its genus name comes from the Tamil moongil anathaan, bamboo squirrel, and the species is named after Sir Walter Elliot of the Madras civil service (Wikipedia, general species account).
It lives in the hill forests of central and southern India, south of the Ganges. Its teeth suit an omnivorous diet. It is not particularly arboreal and spends much of its time on the ground or scrambling over rocky terrain looking for insects and seeds. The crested hawk-eagle has been known to prey on it (Wikipedia, general species account).
Quick answers
- What does the Madras Treeshrew eat?
- Omnivorous: insects and seeds
- What habitat does the Madras Treeshrew live in?
- Hill forest and rocky terrain
- Where is the Madras Treeshrew found?
- Endemic to India: hill forests of central and southern India, south of the Ganges
- How big is the Madras Treeshrew?
- Head and body 16–18.5cm; tail 16.5–19.5cm