Nanogale, a possibly ancestors of tenrecs and otter shrews reign Africa over Paleogene period. Tenrecs are widely diverse as a result of convergent evolution they resemble hedgehogs, shrews, opossums or mice. Otter shrews are most closely related to the tenrecs of Madagascar.Īll tenrecs are believed to descend from a common ancestor that lived 29–37 million years (Ma) ago after rafting from Africa to Madagascar in a single event. Get FREE shipping on Otter by Daniel Allen, from. It is the only species in the genus Potamogale. Dwarf otter shrews are associated with mountain and lowland fast-flowing streams and small rivers in forests, savannas, and cultivated fields. The giant otter shrew is found in fast-flowing mountain streams, large, fast rivers, sluggish coastal streams, and swamps. It lives in streams, wetlands and slow flowing larger rivers. It is found in the main rainforest block of central Africa from Nigeria to Zambia, with a few isolated populations in Kenya and Uganda. His first book, Otter (Reaktion Books, 2010 2020), was described by Virginia McKenna OBE as the most brilliant mix of facts ancient and modern. The giant water shrew is fast, propelling itself through the water with side-to-side movements of its back and tail in a sinusoidal motion. Dr Daniel Allen is an Animal Geographer who explores the cultural significance of animals around the world, and is known for his candid observations on conservation, animal welfare and the pet trade. The giant otter shrew has a vertically flat, finely furred tail the Ruwenzori’s is round with stiff hairs forming keels on the upper and lower surfaces and that of the Nimba otter shrew is simply round. It weighs less than 400 grams (0.9 pound) and has a body 27 to 33 cm (11 to 13 inches) long and a slightly shorter tail.

The giant otter shrew (Potamogale velox) has the body form, fur texture, and coloration of a river otter but is smaller. The giant otter shrew (Potamogale velox) is a semiaquatic, carnivorous afrotherian mammal.ĭespite its name, the giant otter shrew is not a true shrew (Soricidae), but the amphibious tenrecs lived in mainland Africa regions from Congo basin to others. “ The identity of the otter is also by no means fixed or unchanging.