Pen-tailed Treeshrew

Taxobox
name = Pen-tailed TreeshrewMSW3 Helgen | pages = 108-109]


status = LC
status_system = iucn3.1
status_ref = IUCN2006 | assessors = Insectivore Specialist Group | year = 2006 | id = 41491 | title = Ptilocercus lowii | downloaded = 2007-07-29]
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Mammalia
ordo = Scandentia
familia = Ptilocercidae
familia_authority = Lyon, 1913
genus = "Ptilocercus"
genus_authority = Gray, 1848
species = "P. lowii"
binomial = "Ptilocercus lowii"
binomial_authority = Gray, 1848

The Pen-tailed Treeshrew ("Ptilocercus lowii") is a species of treeshrew in the Ptilocercidae family. It is found in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. It is the only species in the genus "Ptilocercus" and the family Ptilocercidae. All other treeshrews are in the family Tupaiidae.

The Pen-tailed Treeshrew is one of seven known wild mammals that chronically consume alcohol. A study of the treeshrew in Malaysia found that it spends several hours (aprox. 2 hours, consuming the equivalent of 10 to 12 glasses of wine with an alcohol content of up to 3.8% (recent research, reference pending as per radio broadcast: Leonardo wdr5, 29 July 2008)) every night drinking naturally-fermented nectar of the bertram palm. Despite consuming relatively large amounts of alcohol, the Pen-tailed Treeshrew does not become intoxicated. Measurements of a biomarker of ethanol breakdown suggest that they may be metabolizing it by a pathway that is not used as heavily by humans. [cite journal |first=Frank |last=Wiens | coauthors="et al"| url=http://www.pnas.org/content/105/30/10426 |title=Chronic intake of fermented floral nectar by wild treeshrews| journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences |volume=105 |issue=30 |pages=10426–10431 |date=2008-07-29 |accessdate=2008-07-29 |doi=10.1073/pnas.0801628105]

References