| any of several insectivorous, arboreal mammals of the family Tupaiidae, of southern Asia and adjacent islands, resembling a squirrel and having a long snout. |
| tree shrew n. Any of various small squirrellike arboreal mammals of the family Tupaiidae found in southeast Asia, India, and southern China. Though sometimes placed in a separate taxonomic order, tree shrews are thought to be related to both insectivores and primates. |
tree shrew
any of 17 Southeast Asian species of small mammals resembling squirrels and "true" shrews. Tree shrews, however, are neither rodents nor insectivores and differ from them to the extent that they constitute their own mammalian order. They have large eyes, conspicuous ears, and, like insectivores, a long muzzle. Tree shrews have slender bodies, long, slender limbs, and sharp, curved claws. Depending on the species, the tail is slightly shorter or much longer than the body. Tree shrews have acute senses of hearing and smell, along with good vision
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