Main Characteristics

Indian Tree Shrews have a body length between 17 and 20 cms (6.5 - 8 inches), a tail length between 16 and 19 cms (6.5 - 7.5 inches) and they weigh approximately 150 g (5 oz).

They are grey/brown in colour with a cream stripe on their shoulder. They have a slender build, a long bushy tail, a pointed muzzle and large eyes. They have well developed senses of hearing, smell and vision.

Habitat

Indian Tree Shrews are found in the hill forests of central and southern India. They are active during the day and they sleep in a rock crevice or tree hole at night.

Diet

Indian Tree Shrews are omnivores and they feed on a variety of insects, small vertebrates, fruit and seeds.

Breeding

After a gestation period of approximately 50 days, a litter of 3 - 4 young are born. At birth the young are blind and hairless, but they are able to leave the nest when they are a month old.

Tree Shrews reach sexual maturity at around 4 months old and they generally breed throughout the year with no defined breeding season.

Subspecies

Subspecies of the Indian Tree Shrew include:

Anathana ellioti ellioti
Anathana ellioti pallida
Anathana ellioti wroughtoni

Interesting Facts

Indian Tree Shrews are also known as:
Madras Tree Shrew

Tree Shrews have the highest brain to body mass ratio of any animal, even higher than humans.

The species is named after Sir Walter Elliot.