Palawan treeshrew

The Palawan treeshrew (Tupaia palawanensis) is a treeshrew species endemic to the Palawan Island, Philippines, where it occurs from sea level to an elevation of 1,400 m (4,600 ft). The population is considered steady.^[1] Formerly, it was considered a subspecies of the common treeshrew.^[2] Those found on the islands of Busuanga and Culion, which are part of the Calamian Islands group in the Philippines, have also been called the Calamian treeshrew.^[1]

Palawan treeshrew
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
CITES Appendix II (CITES)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Scandentia
Family:	Tupaiidae
Genus:	Tupaia
Species:	T. palawanensis[2]
Binomial name
Tupaia palawanensis[2] Thomas, 1894
Palawan treeshrew range
Synonyms
Tupaia moellendorffi Matschie, 1898

Habitat and ecology

This species occurs in jungles rich with fresh water and rivers.^[2] It also can be found in agriculture or farming zones, for example, cashew and coconut farms, brushy regions, and logged-over areas.^[2] No threats to this species are known.^[1]

Taxonomy

The German zoologist Paul Matschie first described a Calamian treeshrew from Culion that was part of a zoological collection obtained by the Berlin Zoological Museum in the present day the Natural History Museum, Berlin. He considered it a distinct species as this type specimen differed from the Palawan treeshrew by a slightly shorter muzzle, and a lighter colour of the toes, hair of the tail and chest.^[3] It is now recognised as a synonym of the Palawan treeshrew.^[1]