The Behavior of the Moonrat, Echinosorex gymnurus (Erinaceidae) and the Pentail Shrew, Ptilocercus lowi (Tupaiidae) with Comments on the Behavior of other Insectivora

Gould, Edwin

doi:10.1111/j.1439-0310.1978.tb00245.x

Cited by 29 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…Interestingly, this study allowed us to infer swimming and river crossing in wild Bornean moonrats for the first time. Limited knowledge of E. gymnura ecology is mainly on captive individuals (Liat 1967;Gould 1978), but aquatic feeding activities have been observed, including swimming and diving, and morphological adaptations to this behavioural trait have been identified (Gould 1978). Additionally, stomach content analyses indicated a partially aquatic diet (fish and crabs, Liat 1967).…”

Section: Connectivity Of Bornean Small Mammals Across the Kinabatangamentioning

confidence: 99%

Messing about on the river: the role of geographic barriers in shaping the genetic structure of Bornean small mammals in a fragmented landscape

et al. 2019

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Landscape features may restricting dispersal and gene flow, and increase demographic isolation among sub-populations. In addition, landscape features may represent potential dispersal barriers depending on species vagility. To predict the persistence of populations and to formulate adequate conservation measures it is essential to understand the ability of species to transverse landscape barriers. Using population genetic techniques we assessed the importance of physical barriers along the Kinabatangan River for a suite of non-volant small mammals. Cytochrome b sequence variation was examined for each of the 19 species sampled across both riverbanks. Haplotype networks and molecular variance analyses indicated contrasting patterns of genetic isolation between riversides for different taxa. Genetic isolation between riversides ranged from moderate to complete in tree shrews and squirrels, whereas no isolating effect could be detected in murids and gymnures. Although genetic divergence between forest fragments on the same side of the river could only be studied in a subset of six species, the results suggest an additional dispersal barrier for two of these studied species. While barrier effects of a paved road and tributaries could not be verified, large oil palm plantations seem to have disrupted gene flow in these species. Furthermore, the findings suggest higher genetic connectivity on the more continuously forested compared to the more fragmented riverside, and underline the importance of forest corridors as essential conservation measures to maintain genetic diversity in a fragmented landscape such as that along the Kinabatangan River.

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Section: Connectivity Of Bornean Small Mammals Across the Kinabatangamentioning

confidence: 99%

Messing about on the river: the role of geographic barriers in shaping the genetic structure of Bornean small mammals in a fragmented landscape

et al. 2019

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“…The visual ecology of C. derbianus includes twilight ( fig. 1b ) and daylight activities ( Reid 1997 ), whereas P. lowii is strictly nocturnal ( Lyon 1913 ; Le Gros Clark 1926 ; Lim 1967 ; Gould 1978 ) and averse to moonlight ( Emmons 2000 ). It is therefore likely that the dichromatic vision of ancestral primates is indicative of occasional or regular activity under dim (mesopic) to daylight (photopic) conditions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Euarchontan Opsin Variation Brings New Focus to Primate Origins

et al. 2016

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Debate on the adaptive origins of primates has long focused on the functional ecology of the primate visual system. For example, it is hypothesized that variable expression of short- (SWS1) and middle-to-long-wavelength sensitive (M/LWS) opsins, which confer color vision, can be used to infer ancestral activity patterns and therefore selective ecological pressures. A problem with this approach is that opsin gene variation is incompletely known in the grandorder Euarchonta, that is, the orders Scandentia (treeshrews), Dermoptera (colugos), and Primates. The ancestral state of primate color vision is therefore uncertain. Here, we report on the genes (OPN1SW and OPN1LW) that encode SWS1 and M/LWS opsins in seven species of treeshrew, including the sole nocturnal scandentian Ptilocercus lowii. In addition, we examined the opsin genes of the Central American woolly opossum (Caluromys derbianus), an enduring ecological analogue in the debate on primate origins. Our results indicate: 1) retention of ultraviolet (UV) visual sensitivity in C. derbianus and a shift from UV to blue spectral sensitivities at the base of Euarchonta; 2) ancient pseudogenization of OPN1SW in the ancestors of P. lowii, but a signature of purifying selection in those of C. derbianus; and, 3) the absence of OPN1LW polymorphism among diurnal treeshrews. These findings suggest functional variation in the color vision of nocturnal mammals and a distinctive visual ecology of early primates, perhaps one that demanded greater spatial resolution under light levels that could support cone-mediated color discrimination.

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New views on tree shrews: The role of Tupaiids in primate supraordinal relationships

Sargis¹

2004

Evolutionary Anthropology

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The Behavior of the Moonrat, Echinosorex gymnurus (Erinaceidae) and the Pentail Shrew, Ptilocercus lowi (Tupaiidae) with Comments on the Behavior of other Insectivora

Abstract: Observations in captivity of 9 Ptilocercus and 12 Echinosorex are described. Behavioral data include information on predation, nesting, defense, locomotion and communication (including physical details of vocalizations). Inferences concerning early mammalian evolution are discussed.

Cited by 29 publications

References 34 publications

Messing about on the river: the role of geographic barriers in shaping the genetic structure of Bornean small mammals in a fragmented landscape

Messing about on the river: the role of geographic barriers in shaping the genetic structure of Bornean small mammals in a fragmented landscape

Euarchontan Opsin Variation Brings New Focus to Primate Origins

New views on tree shrews: The role of Tupaiids in primate supraordinal relationships

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