Treeshrew Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Treeshrews Temporal range: Palaeocene recent - present

Madras Treeshrew (Anathana ellioti)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Infraclass:	Eutheria
Superorder:	Euarchontoglires
Order:	Scandentia Wagner, 1855
Families
Tupaiidae Ptilocercidae

A treeshrew is a small, furry animal that lives in the warm, wet forests of Southeast Asia. Even though they are called "treeshrews," they are not actually shrews, which are a different type of small mammal. Treeshrews are unique and belong to their own special group called Scandentia. There are about 20 different kinds of treeshrews, and they are found in two main families: Tupaiidae and Ptilocercidae.

About Treeshrews
- Not a True Shrew
- What Treeshrews Eat
Families of Treeshrews
Images for kids
See also

About Treeshrews

Treeshrews are small mammals, often looking a bit like squirrels with long snouts. They are found only in the tropical forests of Southeast Asia. While their name suggests they live in trees, not all treeshrew species spend all their time up high. Some prefer to live on the ground, searching for food among the leaves and roots.

Not a True Shrew

For a long time, scientists thought treeshrews were closely related to shrews, which are small, mouse-like animals. But after more study, they realized treeshrews are actually more closely related to primates (like monkeys and humans) and flying lemurs! This makes them a very interesting group of animals to study.

What Treeshrews Eat

Treeshrews are omnivores, meaning they eat both plants and animals. Their diet includes insects, small vertebrates (like lizards), and fruits. One interesting food they enjoy is the fruit of the Rafflesia plant. This plant is famous for having the largest flower in the world, which smells like rotting meat!

Families of Treeshrews

There are two main families of treeshrews:

Tupaiidae: This family includes most of the treeshrew species, such as the Northern treeshrew and the Madras treeshrew. They are generally active during the day.
Ptilocercidae: This family has only one species, the Pen-tailed treeshrew. This unique treeshrew is active at night and has a long, feather-like tail.