Main Characteristics

Nicobar Tree Shrews have a slender build and a long tail. They have well developed senses of hearing, smell and vision.

Habitat

Nicobar Tree Shrews are only found on the Nicobar Islands, India.

Diet

Nicobar 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 Nicobar Tree Shrew include:

Tupaia nicobarica nicobarica
Tupaia nicobarica surda

Interesting Facts

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

Tupaia comes from the Malay word "tupai" which means squirrel.