Geogale aurita, Milne-Edwards & A. Grandidier, 1872

Russell A. Mittermeier & Don E. Wilson, 2018, Tenrecidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 8 Insectivores, Sloths and Colugos, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 134-172 : 165-166

6.

Large-eared Tenrec

Geogale aurita

French: Géogale / German: Erdtenrek / Spanish: Tenrec de orejas grandes

Taxonomy. Geogale aurita Milne-Edwards & A. Grandidier, 1872 ,

“Mouroundava [= Morondava],” Madagascar.

Geogale aurita has been regarded variously as in the subfamily Oryzorictinae or, as all current evidence suggests, the subfamily Geogalinae . Recent molecular studies suggest that Geogale may contain two distinct taxa. Status of subspecies orientalis, described based on a single specimen from an isolated locality, remains unresolved. Taxonomy requires reassessment. Monotypic.

Distribution. W, mainly S of Tsiribihina River, S & SE Madagascar; isolated record at Itremo in the Central Highlands and another at Fenoarivo Atsinanana in E Madagascar require substantiation.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 51-76 mm, tail 28-41 mm, ear 13-18 mm, hindfoot 11-12 mm; weight 6-9 g. Tail of the Large-eared Tenrec is ¢.50% of head-body length. Pelage is soft and short but not dense; dorsum varies from light gray to light reddish brown; venter is buffy white; and lateral region is often tinged a yellowish, buffy color. Ears are large and prominent. Tail is scaly, with short hairs. Dental formula is I 2/2, C 1/1, P3/2, M3/3 (x2)=34.

Habitat. Sub-humid, dry, and dry spiny forests; gallery forests; open woodland; and degraded habitats at elevations of 10-870 m. There is a possible record of a Large-eared Tenrec from humid forest.

Food and Feeding. Diet of the Large-eared Tenrec includes various invertebrates but especially termites. The Large-eared Tenrec is believed to be a termite specialist, dependent on termite mounds. Hearing is probably important because its large ears are extended when searching for prey.

Breeding. Mating of Large-eared Tenrecs occurs between late September and March. Gestation lasts 54-69 days or even more. Four of ten captive females had postpartum estrus and thus were pregnant and lactating during the same period. In captive individuals, litters had 2-5 young, and a single wild-caught female was pregnant with five embryos. Young are altricial, eyes open at 21-33 days, and weaning starts at c¢.35 days.

Activity patterns. Large-eared Tenrecs are terrestrial and nocturnal and undergo daily and seasonal torpor. They were found in fallen logs in May, at which time they were torpid during the day but active at night. During austral dry season in June-July, individuals were captured under fallen logs and in crevices in rotting wood.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. L.arge-eared Tenrecs are usually solitary or found in male-female pairs. Common barn-owls (7yto alba) and Madagascar long-eared owls (Asio madagascariensis) are known predators, probably also snakes such as the Madagascar cat-eyed snake (Madagascarophis colubrinus) and small carnivores such as Narrow-striped Bokys (Mungotictis decemlineata).

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Largeeared Tenrec has a relatively wide distribution in southern and western Madagascar and has been recorded from several protected areas. Populations are presumed to be large, although trends are unknown. Many forests where Large-eared Tenrecs occur are under threat from land clearing for cultivation and charcoal production, but the Large-eared Tenrec appears to tolerate some habitat disturbance.

Bibliography. Asher & Hofreiter (2006), Everson et al. (2016), Goodman, Jenkins & Pidgeon (1999), Goodman, Soarimalala et al. (2013), Gould & Eisenberg (1966), Nicoll & Rathbun (1990), Olson & Goodman (2003), Poux et al. (2008), Salton & Sargis (2008a, 2008b, 2009), Soarimalala & Goodman (2011), Stephenson (1993, 2002, 2003a), Stephenson & Racey (1993a), Stephenson, Racey & Rakotondraparany (1994), Stephenson, Soarimalala & Goodman (2016f).

Figures

1. Lesser Hedgehog Tenrec (Echinops telfairi), 2. Greater Hedgehog Tenrec (Setifer setosus), 3. Tailless Tenrec (Tenrec ecaudatus), 4. Lowland Streaked Tenrec (Hemacenteles semispinosus), 5. Highland Streaked Tenrec (Hemicentetes nigriceps), 6. Large-eared Tenrec (Geogale aurita), 7. Mole-like Rice Tenrec (Oryzorictes hova), 8. Four-toed Rice Tenrec (Oryzorictes tetradactylus), 9. Dobson’s Shrew Tenrec (Nesogale dobsoni), 10. Talazac’s Shrew Tenrec (Nesogale talazact), 11. Montane Shrew Tenrec (Macrogale monticola), 12. Dryad Shrew Tenrec (Microgale dryas), 13. Short-tailed Shrew Tenrec (Microgale brevicaudata), 14. Pygmy Shrew Tenrec (Microgale parvula), 15. Lesser Long-tailed Shrew Tenrec (Mucrogale longicaudata), 16. Drouhard’s Shrew Tenrec (Microgale drouhardi), 17. Taiva Shrew Tenrec (Microgale taiva), 18. Pale Shrew (Tenrec Mucrogalefotsifotsy), 19. Greater Long-tailed Shrew Tenrec (Microgale principula), 20. Cowan's Shrew Tenrec (Microgale cowant), 21. Naked-nosed Shrew Tenrec (Microgale gymnorhyncha), 22. Shrew-toothed Shrew Tenrec (Microgale soricoides), 23. Major's Shrew Tenrec (Microgale major), 24. Gracile Shrew Tenrec (Microgale gracilis), 25. Thomas’s Shrew Tenrec (Microgale thomasi), 26. Grandidier’s Shrew Tenrec (Muicrogale grandidieri), 27. Web-footed Tenrec (Microgale mergulus), 28. Least Shrew Tenrec (Muicrogale pusilla), 29. Dark Shrew (Tenrec Microgalejobihely), 30. Nasolo’s Shrew Tenrec (Microgale nasoloi), 31. Jenkins’s Shrew (Tenrec Microgalejenkinsae)

Distribution. W, mainly S of Tsiribihina River, S & SE Madagascar; isolated record at Itremo in the Central Highlands and another at Fenoarivo Atsinanana in E Madagascar require substantiation.