Animal Facts: Common Tree Shrew (Tupaia glis)

The common tree shrew is a very emotional animal. When a male and female meet, it is either love or hate at first sight. This creature's strong feelings become most obvious when two are put into a cage together. About one pair in five seems to fall instantly in love. They nuzzle each other day and night. But most of the time, the forced meeting results in a violent fight. Each shrew then retreats as far away from the other as it can. In a cage, however, the couple is forced to look at one another. After a time, they literally die from the stress.

In nature, tree shrews that don't get along can flee. They are very territorial. The male marks the boundaries of his property with scents rubbed from a gland behind his neck. Scents that animals use to communicate in this way are called "pheromones."

A happy tree shrew couple usually mate on the very first day they meet. About 45 days later, the mother gives birth, usually to two babies. Each one weighs less than half an ounce. Normally she covers the babies with a special scent, or pheromone. This scent tells her mate to leave them alone. If she does not, he will undoubtedly eat them.

Tree shrews are more closely related to primates than they are to the mole-like shrews of North America and Europe. Like monkeys, tree shrews have large, well-developed brains and ape-like ears. 

Length of the Body: 5 to 7^1/2 inches

Length of the Tail: 5^1/2 to 7 inches
Weight: 2 to 6^1/2 ounces
Diet: fruits, insects, lizards, and small mammals
Number of Young: 1 to 4
Home: Southeast Asia