MANILA, Philippines — The recent rediscovery of the Mindanao tree shrew, locally known as “tingkolit,” during a biodiversity monitoring survey on Mt. Apo has significant ecological implications, according to an expert.
This comes after the species was spotted in a mid-montane zone within the mountain's protected area.
In an exclusive interview with The Manila Times, biologist Von Eric Tagarino said that the Philippines was home to two distinct species of tree shrews: one native to Palawan and the other to Mindanao.
He noted that while tree shrews visually resemble squirrels, they were not actually rodents.
"They are actually more closely related to primates, like humans, than they are to squirrels," Tagarino said.
Furthermore, Tagarino highlighted that documenting the species at this specific elevation introduced a new scientific insight: the Mindanao tree shrew is capable of occupying a broader ecological niche and range of habitats than previously thought.