The taxonomy of Microgale cowani has always been complicated. When the first specimens were collected it was not always clear what species they belonged to. As a result, M. cowani was incorrectly split into several species. The type specimen was collected by Thomas in 1882. Two taxonomic revisions have been undertaken, the first by MacPhee in 1987 and the second by Stephenson in 1995. Both MacPhee and Stephenson agree that M. crassipes is in fact the same species as M. cowani, but disagree about whether M. longirostris is its own species.
Microgale cowani along with the other Microgale species is primarily studied through trapping. In areas where M. cowani is found it tends to be trapped more often than other Microgale species. This could be due to many reasons, including it being more common, or because it has specific habits that increase its susceptibility to trapping.
Microgale cowani has numerous vibrissae, which are used to sense surroundings. When two males are placed together they show agonistic behaviors such as mouth gaping, biting, and squealing. Due to the fact that Microgale cowani has not been extensively studied in the wild little else is known about how it communicates.
Communication Channels: visual
Perception Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic ; chemical
There are no known major threats to Microgale cowani. IUCN considers it to be a species of least concern as it is widely distributed, including several protected park areas, and seems to have large population numbers. It also adapts well to disturbed areas and agricultural fields.
US Federal List: no special status
CITES: no special status
State of Michigan List: no special status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern
Microgale cowani does not negatively affect humans.
Microgale cowani does not have an economic importance for humans. They are not captured for the pet trade and are too small to eat.
Microgale cowani is a prey species to some animals and preys on arthropods.
In captivity, Microgale cowani will accept orthopteran insects, ground meat, and earthworms. There is evidence of cannibalism and eating of smaller Microgale species from traps. They forage in leaf litter and among fallen branches and tree roots on the forest floor. Prey is seized with the mouth before being consumed.
Animal Foods: mammals; insects; terrestrial worms
Primary Diet: carnivore (Insectivore )
Microgale cowani is endemic to humid forests and associated habitats in eastern Madagascar.
Biogeographic Regions: ethiopian (Native )
Other Geographic Terms: island endemic
Cowan's shrew tenrecs are found in more habitats than most other shrew tenrec species. They mainly inhabit lowland humid and moist montane forests of the eastern regions. They are also known from forest patches in the eastern regions of the central highlands. A few specimens have been trapped on the edges of agricultural fields. There is no evidence of M. cowani from western Madagascar. It has been suggested that M. cowani is not well adapted to the more pronounced seasonal variation typical of western Madagascar.
Range elevation: 810 to 2450 m.
Habitat Regions: tropical ; terrestrial
Terrestrial Biomes: rainforest ; scrub forest
Other Habitat Features: agricultural
No data could be found for the lifespan of Microgale cowani. Two closely related species, M. dobsoni and M. talazaci were found to live up to 6 years in captivity.
Microgale cowani is a small, shrew-like mammal. Because there are few collected specimens and confusion over the correct classification of those specimens, descriptions of M. cowani vary. Recent reports describe it as having a soft, short, dense pelage with sparse guard hairs. There is a wide variety of coat colors and patterns, from chocolate brown with red highlights to mousy brown with larger amounts of red. They can have a darker mid-dorsal stripe and lighter bellies. Specimens in captivity noticeably darken after molting. The tail is shorter than the body and can be bi-colored like the coat. The rostrum tapers to a point and is covered with vibrissae. The eyes are small. There is a cloacae which is the outlet for evacuating waste and the reproductive organs.
The adult tooth formula of M. cowani is I 3/3, C 1/1, P 3/3, M 3/3. The only deciduous tooth lost before the molars erupt and are fully functional is I 3/3. The replacement of the deciduous teeth happens so rapidly it is difficult to obtain specimens showing intermediate stages of tooth loss. Deciduous and adult teeth look nearly identical, requiring expertise to tell them apart. Premolars P3 and P4 are very molariform and the canine usually has a small paraconid.
All tenrecs have a lower resting metabolic rate than most other mammals. Microgale cowani has a higher resting metabolic rate, similar to tropical shrews, which is higher than most other tenrecs. The resting metabolic rate and body temperature rise for pregnant and lactating females.
Range mass: 10.0 to 13.8 g.
Range length: 113 to 165 mm.
Average length: 131.3 mm.
Range basal metabolic rate: 23.4 mL oxygen/h to 30.4 mL oxygen/h cm3.O2/g/hr.
Average basal metabolic rate: 27.0 mL oxygen/h cm3.O2/g/hr.
Other Physical Features: endothermic ; homoiothermic; bilateral symmetry
Sexual Dimorphism: sexes alike
Microgale cowani lacks obvious defenses from predators other than concealment and flight. It is possibly prey for larger reptiles, birds, and mammals. Bones of M. cowani have been found in the stomachs of Microgale pusilla, Tyto soumagnei, and Tyto alba.
Known Predators:
Anti-predator Adaptations: cryptic
Little is known of the mating systems of Microgale cowani. When kept in captivity, male-female pairs sometimes share a nest.
Little is known about Microgale cowani reproduction. In one study 3 babies were born to captured females who had mated in the wild. Two captured specimens had 3 to 4 embryos each. Two specimens had 3 to 5 placental scars. Some specimens still had deciduous dentition so M. cowani can reproduce while still developmentally immature.
The reproduction of closely related M. dobsoni and M. talazaci were studied in the late 1960s. Three pairs of M. dobsoni were mated, resulting in one abortion and two litters of 3 young each. Four litters of M. talazaci were born in captivity, averaging 1 to 3 young. Both species started breeding after their autumn molt, around the age of 22 months. The average length of gestation was 58 to 64 days. The young started to grow hair around 12 days and opened their eyes around day 18. They grew their full coat of hair by 18 to 22 days. Around day 28 to 30 the young started following the mother at night, and were presumably weaned.
Breeding interval: Breeding intervals are unknown in M. cowani.
Breeding season: The breeding season of M. cowani is unknown.
Range number of offspring: 3 to 5.
Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; fertilization ; viviparous
Not much is known about parental investment in Microgale cowani. One litter of 3 was born in captivity, but was cannibalized by the mother at 4 days of age. Like most mammals, young are likely to be cared for extensively by their female parents until they are weaned. This is supported by research on related Microgale species as well.
Parental Investment: altricial ; pre-fertilization (Provisioning, Protecting: Female); pre-hatching/birth (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female); pre-weaning/fledging (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female)
Cowan's shrew tenrec (Microgale cowani) is a species of mammal in the family Tenrecidae.
Cowan's shrew tenrecs weigh an average just over 10 g (0.35 oz), and have an average length of slightly over 5 in (130 mm). Most specimens are mostly brown, often having a mid-dorsal stripe of a darker color and a lighter belly. The coat of Cowan's shrew tenrecs contains a wide variety of patterns, mostly consisting of various shades of red and brown.[3]
Cowan's shrew tenrecs are mostly solitary animals. When two males are in close quarters, they will often try to squeal at or bite each other. Cowan's shrew tenrecs are carnivores, and will search for small prey on forest floors. Their predators are mostly other vertebrates, such as owls and sometimes even other shrew tenrecs. Their only major defense against these predators is the ability to camouflage.[3]
Cowan's shrew tenrec is endemic to Madagascar. It is found in the most habitats of any other shrew tenrec, with its natural habitats being subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, subtropical or tropical moist montane forest, plantations, and heavily degraded former forest.[3] It lives at elevations from about 800 to 2,500 meters.[2]
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Skull of Cowan's shrew tenrec Cowan's shrew tenrec (Microgale cowani) is a species of mammal in the family Tenrecidae.
