Definition: The only family of the order SCANDENTIA, variously included in the order Insectivora or in the order Primates, and often in the order Microscelidea, consisting of five genera. They are TUPAIA, Ananthana (Indian tree shrew), Dendrogale (small smooth-tailed tree shrew), Urogale (Mindanao tree shrew), and Ptilocercus (pen-tailed tree shrew). The tree shrews inhabit the forest areas of eastern Asia from India and southwestern China to Borneo and the Philippines.
family of tree shrews; do not confuse X ref TREE SHREWS with SHREWS (insectivore); IM; qualif permitted
ExamplesTupaia
Other names Tupaiinae; Tree Shrews; Shrews, Tree; Ptilocercus; Tree Shrew; Shrew, Tree; Treeshrews; Treeshrew
