the position of the pointed-croissants in the system of the animal-empire was controversial long time. At first, they were assigned to the insectivores, of who some remind in its look, then, they were understood as original semi-monkeys and primates were supplied at the beginning of the order. Today, however, one grants them itself the position of an order and puts it beside the insectivores and primates.
Shape The shape of most pointed-croissants can be described confidently as "croissant-similar." However, most types don't have any extended Tasthaare at the nose in contrast to the actual croissants (earth and tree-croissants). The pointed-croissants become 10-22 cm long and have an usually approximately body-long tail additionally.
The coloring of the fur is different for the individual types. The most colorfully, the smallest pointed-croissant, Dendrogale murina, is from Indochina. It is ocher or brown on the upper side until black. A black strip, that is up to the ears from the nose beyond the eyes away, is at the head-sides; above and below from it is long-stretched, lightens, reddish-yellow drawings.
While the tail is hairy bushy with all types of the subfamily bush-tail-croissants (type Tupaia, Anathana, Dendrogale and Urogale) after type of the tree-croissants, so the round tail of the two Dendrogale-Arten carries only few short hair, that is colored black on the upper side and on the tail-end.
The other types are colored more uniformly ocher, sallow or reddish-brown. Frequently, one finds light shoulder-strips or an indicated face-drawing. The ears are small and fleshy with most types. The feet are bare. Those long and flexible fingers are equipped with sharp, but little bent claws.
Interesting is, that the upper edge-teeth are extended and apart-stand. they, exactly like with some trunk-jumpers, are cuspid-like. The cuspids even are only small and resemble the pre-cheek-teeth.
The skull of the pointed-croissants with the big, closed, bone eye-rings and the rather long brain-part however absolutely is not insectivore-like. The at the side standing eyes have a blunt eye-axis-corner. It is rather sure that is not able to see the pointed-croissants spatially. they can smell very well on the other hand and can hear.
The feather-tail-croissant, from an independent subfamily, falls out something in coloring and shape.
Habitat and spread Pointed-croissants are widespread in the forests Südostasiens.
Way of life Until on the feather-tail-croissants, all pointed-croissants are day-active. Way of life and movement resemble those of the croissants. This probably in pairs of living animals is nimble climbers and excellent runners. Albeit one, that the pointed-croissants are pure tree-inhabitant, could assume from the name, most types prefer a life on the ground. At danger, they seek protection under tree-roots, fallen tree-trunks or caves and splits at the ground. To the food-search, they climb trees and bushes. Dendrogale melanura from Borneo lives on 900-1500 m in mountain-forests. Both types of the type Dendrogale prefer a tree-life sooner than the other pointed-croissants. All pointed-croissants live from insects, fruits and berries; however becomes also other plant-parts, leaves and shoots, as well as animal food, young birds and mice, consumes.
Reproduction The reproductive-time of the Tupajas is distributed over the whole year. 1-5 become after approximately 7 weeks, usually 1-2 kids, who are looked after only every 48 hours, born. With the type Urogale, the blind boys with a complete hair-dress were born. At the 19. Meet, they open the eyes and arise with approximately 3 months.
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