TREE SHREW LIFE SPAN PROJECT
Letters or E-mail and questionnaires have been sent to nearly 270 zoos and other institutions requesting information on the lifespan of tree shrews (Order Scandentia). Most of the inquiries have been sent to countries in Asia and Southeast Asia because the native habitat of tree shrews happens to be in that area of the world.
The purpose of the project is to identify a species of mammal as closely related to man as possible with as short of a lifespan as possible. It began with a review of published sources on the longevity of primitive primates, or prosimians. This group of animals includes lemurs and tarsiers as well as several others. However, the shortest maximum life span of these species is about 12 years.
The next group of animals considered was tree shrews. In the past tree shrews have been classified as primates or insectivores, but are currently placed in their own order, the Scandentia, because they are considered to be intermediate between the other two orders. Tree shrews consist of five genera and 19 species. Six of these species are listed by the IUCN as endangered or vulnerable; the other 13 species are categorized as lower risk, least concern. Life span data of 12 to 14 years for one species, Tupaia belangeri, are based on sufficient observations to be considered reliable. Tupaia glis is very similar in appearance to T. belangeri and may have a similar life span, but data are clouded by confusion in identification between the two species. Urogale everetti, an endangered species, lives for about 11.5 years. Tupaia tana has been observed to live for five years and Ptilocercus lowii for two years and eight months, but the limited number of observations make these values questionable as maximum life spans of these species.
If a non-endangered species with a life span of five years or less is identified, it could be the basis for new aging research. Such research could be the basis for determining which of several theories of aging are most relevant to humans. A caloric-restricted diet has been shown to extend the lives of several unrelated species. Can extended life be achieved by genetic or chemical imitation of caloric restriction? Can vitamins, antioxidants, other nutritional supplements, or hormone replacement extend the lives of test animals? Can maintenance of telomere length in dividing cells increase life span? Can dissolving protein cross-linkage (or sugar/protein cross- linkage = glycosylation) due to aging extend life span? Can techniques be developed to repair mitochondrial DNA and membranes in non-dividing cells? Would such repair lengthen the lives of test subjects? Answers to these questions would be more meaningful if provided by studies of a species more closely related to us than mice or rats.
Before the research suggested can begin on an appropriate animal model a species has to be identified that would serve as a good subject. We hope that the survey of zoos and other institutions being conducted by Stanley R. Primmer will identify such a species.
If you are able to provide information on tree shrews that will assist in this project, please copy the following questionnaire and E-mail your response to "sprimmer@paclink.net." A list of known species of tree shrews follows the questionnaire. The results of the survey will be presented here when it is complete.
===========================================================
ANIMAL LIFE SPAN QUESTIONNAIRE
1st Species: ___________________________________
Number of animals: ________
Oldest Living Animal:
Birthdate: _______________ OR
Acquisition date: _______________ AND
Estimated age when acquired: __________
Oldest Animal at Death:
Birthdate: ______________ OR
Acquisition date: _______________ AND
Estimated age when acquired: __________
Date of death: _______________
Cause of death: ________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Geographical source of original stock: ______________________________________
===========================================================
2nd Species: ___________________________________
Number of animals: ________
Oldest Living Animal:
Birthdate: _______________ OR
Acquisition date: _______________ AND
Estimated age when acquired: __________
Oldest Animal at Death:
Birthdate: ______________ OR
Acquisition date: _______________ AND
Estimated age when acquired: __________
Date of death: _______________
Cause of death: ________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Geographical source of original stock: ______________________________________
===========================================================
Name: _______________________________________
Title: ________________________________________
Organization: __________________________________
Address: ______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
Date: __________________
===========================================================
Anathana elliotti (Madras tree shrew)
Dendrogale melanura (Bornean smooth-tailed tree shrew)
Dendrogale murina (Northern smooth-tailed tree shrew)
Tupaia belangeri (Northern tree shrew)
Tupaia chrysogaster (Golden-bellied tree shrew)
Tupaia dorsalis (Striped tree shrew)
Tupaia glis (Common tree shrew)
Tupaia gracilis (Slender tree shrew)
Tupaia javanica (Javan tree shrew)
Tupaia longipes (Bornean tree shrew)
Tupaia minor (Pygmy/Lesser tree shrew)
Tupaia montana (Mountain tree shrew)
Tupaia nicobarica (Nicobar tree shrew)
Tupaia palawanensis (Palawan tree shrew)
Tupaia pictaI (Painted tree shrew)
Tupaia splendidula (Ruddy tree shrew)
Tupaia tana (Large tree shrew)
Urogale everetti (Philippine tree shrew)
Ptilocercus lowii (Pen-tailed tree shrew)