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Tree shrew

Tree shrews
Scientific classification
Domain:Eukaryota
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Mammalia
Order:Scandentia
Family:Tupaiidae
Genera
Tupaiinae
 Tupaia
 Anathana
 Urogale

 Dendrogale
 Lyonogale

Ptilocercinae
 Ptilocercus

The tree shrews are small, squirrel-like mammals native to the tropical forests of South-east Asia. They make up the family Tupaiidae and the entire order Scandentia. There are 18 species in 6 genera.

Although called tree shrews, they are not shrews (although they were previously classified in the Insectivora), and are not all arboreal. They are most notable for their mothering practices: the mother runs around all over for two days, then visits her children for only two minutes. They are also paranoid, never taking the same route to their home or their children's. Among other things, they eat Rafflesia fruit.

Tree shrews are considered by some to be a primitive form of Primate.