A little known mammal, the Palawan tree shrew (Tupaia palawanensis palawanensis) is an antisocial animal, as it would prevent even its own kind from entering its territory.

Morphological Description

The Palawan Tree Shrew is one of the unfamiliar and uncommon mammals of Palawan Island, Philippines. Commonly called “bising” in the vernacular, the Palawan tree shrew can grow to almost 2 feet long, the tail accounting for about a third of the body. The Palawan tree shrew has an elongated snout, proportionately small ears relative to the head, and a hairy tail. The head is predominantly black with a spot immediately behind the ear.

Habitat and Biology

The Palawan tree shrew usually inhabits dense secondary forests bounding cleared areas like those prepared for slash-and-burn farming. They are also observed in thick stands of bamboo growing along streams. The Palawan tree shrew are generally arboreal, meaning inhabiting or frequenting trees to look for food and avoid predators.

A very shy, as the name connotes, the Palawan tree shrew avoids its own kind and would defend actively its territory. For this reason the Palawan tree shrew must eat all the time as it burns up so much energy fighting and looking for food. Their long snouts make them efficient insectivores, but the Palawan tree shrew would also thrive on fruits.

Distribution

The Palawan tree shrew are known only in the Palawan group of islands, i.e., in Palawan mainland and nearby small islands of Cuyo in the east, and Culion and Busuanga in the north of mainland Palawan. This species is endemic to the Philippines, where it is widespread on Palawan Island from 0 to 1,400 m asl (Esselstyn et al. 2004; Helgen 2005).

Status

As the Palawan tree shrew is endemic and uncommon in Palawan, the remaining population is threatened primarily because humans also hunt it for food aside from destroying its habitat. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists Tupaia as Least Concern in view of its tolerance of a broad range of habitats, presumed large population, and because it is unlikely to be declining at nearly the rate required to qualify for listing in a threatened category.

References:

Esselstyn, J. A., Widmann, P. and L. R. Heaney, 2004. The mammals of Palawan Island, Philippines. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington, 117(3):271-302.

Gonzalez, J.C., Widmann, P. & Heaney, L. 2008. Tupaia palawanensis. In: IUCN 2010. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2010.4. . Downloaded on 17 March 2011.

Rabor, D. S, 1986. Guide to Philippine Flora and Fauna: Birds and Mammals. Natural Resource Management Center, Ministry of Natural Resources and University of the Philippines. 213 pp.

© 2012 August 18 Patrick A. Regoniel