Amazing Species: Mountain Treeshrew
Ch’ien Lee Zoo © San Diego
Amazing Species: Mountain Treeshrew The Mountain Treeshrew, Tupaia Montana, has been assessed as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM. It is common in Borneo, distributed across several isolated montane forest regions in Sarawak and western Sabah, and may also be found in northern Kalimantan (Indonesia). Geographical range
Knowledge Experts Get Involved
Mountain Treeshrews have an intriguing mutualistic relationship with three species of giant Nepenthes pitcher plants. Essentially these plants act as a treeshrew toilet by luring in the small animals using nectar secreted from the pitcher’s lid. As the animal licks the nectar, its droppings are collected in the plants’ traps. The Mountain Treeshrew obtains a valuable food source, while in return the plants receive fertilizer from nitrogen in the faeces. In general, species living in montane Borneo are threatened by habitat loss due to deforestation for agriculture, for example, the conversion of upland forests to vegetable farms. This species receives protection through the control of international trade under its listing on Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES). Its occurrence in several nature reserves and national parks may also help to safeguard its long-term survival.
The production of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ is made possible through the IUCN Red List Partnership.
Amazing Species: Mountain Treeshrew The Mountain Treeshrew, Tupaia Montana, has been assessed as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM. It is common in Borneo, distributed across several isolated montane forest regions in Sarawak and western Sabah, and may also be found in northern Kalimantan (Indonesia). Geographical range
Knowledge Experts Get Involved
Mountain Treeshrews have an intriguing mutualistic relationship with three species of giant Nepenthes pitcher plants. Essentially these plants act as a treeshrew toilet by luring in the small animals using nectar secreted from the pitcher’s lid. As the animal licks the nectar, its droppings are collected in the plants’ traps. The Mountain Treeshrew obtains a valuable food source, while in return the plants receive fertilizer from nitrogen in the faeces. In general, species living in montane Borneo are threatened by habitat loss due to deforestation for agriculture, for example, the conversion of upland forests to vegetable farms. This species receives protection through the control of international trade under its listing on Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES). Its occurrence in several nature reserves and national parks may also help to safeguard its long-term survival.
The production of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ is made possible through the IUCN Red List Partnership.
