ago They include members of subfamilies Tenrecinae and Geogalinae as well as Oryzorictinae. While it is similar in habits to the related equatorial African otter shrews of family Potamogalidae, their aquatic lifestyles evolved independently from one another. The split between tenrecs and otter shrews has been dated to about 47–53 Ma ago. Conservation The aquatic tenrec is currently ranked by the IUCN as Vulnerable on the Red List. Due to their specialized habitat requirements and restriction to the island of Madagascar, it is estimated that less than 2,000 km2 of suitable habitat remains. Degradation of riparian ecosystems and siltation of streams are the leading threat to the species’. Deforestation is also recognized as a potential cause of decline. However, recent studies have shown healthy populations of M. mergulus in streams where forest has been cleared or otherwise degraded, as well as non-native plantations. Areas of its habitat which are currently protected include Ranomafana National Park and the Andringitra National Park (1989) and it is also reported in the new Nosy Volo Reserve in the east (2014). Within afrotherian mammals, Microgale mergulus is typically considered for highest priority conservation priority along with the giant otter shrew, giant golden mole, northern shrew tenrec and Nimba otter shrew, as well as some better-known conservation symbols like the dugong, Asian elephant, and three species of manatees. This priority has been analyzed using two different methods, including phylogenetic diversity (PD) and evolutionary distinctiveness (ED). References Animal, Smithsonian Institution, 2005 Nicoll, M., Ratsifandrihamanana, N. (2014), Growth of Madagascar’s protected areas system and its implications for tenrecs (Afrosoricida, Tenrecidae). Afrotherian Conservation. September 2014: 4-8. Published by IUCN, Gland, Switzerland. Afrosoricida Endemic fauna of Madagascar Mammals of Madagascar Vulnerable animals Vulnerable biota of Africa Mammals described in 1896 Taxa named by Charles Immanuel Forsyth Major Taxobox binomials not recognized by IUCN