pen-tailed tree shrew
Definition
Noun: A small, nocturnal mammal native to Southeast Asian rainforests, scientifically known as Ptilocercus lowii. It is characterized by a distinctive tail that is hairless for most of its length but has a feather-like tuft of long, stiff white hairs at the end, resembling a quill pen.
Usage
The term "pen-tailed tree shrew" is used specifically to refer to this unique species of tree shrew. It is a zoological term. - The pen-tailed tree shrew is considered a living fossil, as it is the most primitive species of tree shrew. - Researchers study the pen-tailed tree shrew to understand early mammalian evolution.
Advanced Usage
- The pen-tailed tree shrew is notable for its high alcohol tolerance, as it regularly consumes fermented nectar from the bertam palm.
- In taxonomic classification, it is the sole living representative of the family Ptilocercidae, distinct from other tree shrews in the family Tupaiidae.
Variants and Related Words
- Pen-tailed treeshrew: An alternative spelling, often written as a single compound word.
- Ptilocercus lowii: The scientific binomial name.
- Tree shrew: The common name for the order Scandentia, to which the pen-tailed tree shrew belongs.
Synonyms
- Feather-tailed tree shrew: A descriptive synonym referencing the tail's appearance.
Related Phrases/Idioms
This is a specific zoological term and is not commonly used in idiomatic expressions or phrasal verbs.
Noun
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brown tree shrew having a naked tail bilaterally fringed with long stiff hairs on the distal third; of Malaysia
