African giant shrew

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African giant shrew
The Congo Expedition of the American Museum of Natural History (1919) (20680539435).jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Eulipotyphla
Family: Soricidae
Genus: Crocidura
Species:
C. olivieri
Binomial name
Crocidura olivieri
(Lesson, 1827)
African Giant Shrew area.png
African giant shrew range

The African giant shrew (Crocidura olivieri) is a species of white-toothed shrew. It also is known as, Mann's musk shrew, Euchareena's musk shrew, [2] or Olivier's shrew. [1] It is native to Africa, where it has a widespread distribution and occurs in many types of habitat. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forest, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, subtropical or tropical moist montane forest, dry savanna, moist savanna, arable land, rural gardens, urban areas, and heavily degraded former forest. In the Nile Valley it is found near human habitation, where it is considered to be a pest. It is a common species and is listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as being of "least concern". [1]

Contents

Taxonomy

This species was first described from mummified specimens, found at Sakkara in Ancient Egyptian tombs, [3] [4] and included in the genus Sorex , the neotype having been collected from near Giza. (To the ancient Egyptians, the shrew represented the nocturnal side of Horus; [5] [6] see Animal mummy#Miscellaneous animals.) The valid name is Crocidura olivieri. Large shrews of this type still live in Egypt and it is presumed that the holotype, which has been lost, resembled them closely. Now, the original name of Crocidura flavescens is used for a different species, found solely in South Africa. About fifteen subspecies have been proposed in the past and there are dark colour morphs and pale colour morphs, however, biochemical evidence shows that all are variations of a single, but highly variable species. [4]

Description

This is a large shrew growing to a head-and-body length of 110 to 140 mm (4.3 to 5.5 in) with a tail about 80% of the body-length. The hind foot measures 21 to 23 mm (0.8 to 0.9 in). In Nigeria, this shrew weighs between 37 and 65 g (1.3 and 2.3 oz) while in Zimbabwe, it is smaller at 31 to 37 g (1.1 to 1.3 oz). The fur is variable in colour, the dorsal surface being reddish-brown, dark brown, or blackish, while the ventral surface is buffy-brown to dark grey. The tail is thickly clad with short bristles. The skull is robust and somewhat flattened, with a long rostrum and smallish braincase. The teeth are large and strong, particularly the incisors. There are three pairs of nipples and on the flanks are glands that exude a musky odour. [2]

Distribution and habitat

This shrew is present in the Nile Valley in Egypt and has a wide distribution in sub-Saharan Africa, where its range extends from Senegal to Sudan and Ethiopia, and southwards to Angola, northern Namibia and Zimbabwe. It occurs in a wide range of habitats, both wet and dry, and both forest and savanna. In Egypt, it occurs in gardens, agricultural areas, and canal embankments. When it lives in close proximity to human settlements, it may be regarded as a pest species. [1]

Ecology

The African giant shrew is a terrestrial species that is active at night, particularly just before dawn. It feeds on small invertebrates such as ants, beetles, millipedes, termites, and spiders, and possibly also on carrion. Breeding activity varies across its range but appears to take place most of the year with litter sizes averaging about four. Owls such as the barn owl, the African grass owl, and the spotted eagle-owl are among the main predators, as well as small mammals such as genets, mongooses, and wild cats. [2]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White-toothed shrew</span> Subfamily of mammals

The white-toothed shrews or Crocidurinae are one of three subfamilies of the shrew family Soricidae.

<i>Crocidura</i> Genus of mammals

The genus Crocidura is one of nine genera of the shrew subfamily Crocidurinae. Members of the genus are commonly called white-toothed shrews or musk shrews, although both also apply to all of the species in the subfamily. With over 180 species, Crocidura contains the most species of any mammal genus. The name Crocidura means "woolly tail", because the tail of Crocidura species are covered in short hairs interspersed with longer ones.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Schreber's yellow bat</span> Species of bat

Schreber's yellow bat or the giant house bat, is a species of vesper bat. It is found in Benin, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, and Zimbabwe. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, dry savanna, and moist savanna. It is an uncommon species and its biology is poorly known. It was first described in 1774 by the German naturalist Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber, who named it Vespertilio nigrita. It was later transferred to the genus Scotophilus, making it Scotophilus nigrita.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bates's shrew</span> Species of mammal

Bates's shrew is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is found in Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. This large black shrew was first described by the British zoologist Guy Dollman in 1915, the type locality being the vicinity of the Como River in Gabon. The exact definition of this species is unclear; it is often included in Fraser's musk shrew, or reported as Wimmer's shrew. Its karyotype is 2n=50, FN-76, which is identical to the Nigerian shrew, and the species complex is in need of a thorough revision.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dent's shrew</span> Species of mammal

Dent's shrew is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is found in Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Uganda. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and moist savanna.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doucet's musk shrew</span> Species of mammal

Doucet's musk shrew is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is found in Ivory Coast, Liberia, and possibly Nigeria. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fox's shrew</span> Species of mammal

Fox's shrew is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is found in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Ivory Coast, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, South Sudan, and Togo. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, moist savanna, and plantations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bicolored musk shrew</span> Species of mammal

The bicolored musk shrew is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is found in Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Its natural habitats are savanna, subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland, and hot deserts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greenwood's shrew</span> Species of mammal

The Greenwood's shrew is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is endemic to Somalia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, dry savanna, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, and arable land.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hildegarde's shrew</span> Species of mammal

Hildegarde's shrew is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is found in Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania. Considered by some authorities to be a subspecies of Crocidura gracilipes, it is now recognised as a separate species, with a diploid chromosome number of 2n = 52. This is one of three species of small mammal named by the British zoologist Oldfield Thomas in honour of anthropologist Hildegarde Beatrice Hinde.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lesser red musk shrew</span> Species of mammal

The lesser red musk shrew is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Eswatini, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Its natural habitat are savanna, subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland, and hot deserts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MacMillan's shrew</span> Species of mammal

MacMillan's shrew is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is endemic to the Ethiopian Highlands. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, and moist savanna.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swamp musk shrew</span> Species of mammal native to African swamps

The swamp musk shrew, or musk shrew, is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It occurs in Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Eswatini, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Its natural habitat is swamps, and it is a common species in suitable habitats, with the International Union for Conservation of Nature listing it as being of "least concern".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ugandan musk shrew</span> Species of mammal

The Ugandan musk shrew is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is found in Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic. Its range, population size and habits are poorly known.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fraser's musk shrew</span> Species of mammal

Fraser's musk shrew is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is found in Benin, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, São Tomé and Príncipe, Sierra Leone, and Togo. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. This large black shrew was first described by the British zoologist Louis Fraser in 1843. Its exact definition is unclear; the karyotype comes from Ivory Coast but not from Equatorial Guinea, which is given as the type locality.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lesser gray-brown musk shrew</span> Species of mammal

The lesser gray-brown musk shrew is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is found in Angola, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Its natural habitats are dry savanna, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, subtropical or tropical high-elevation grassland, and rocky areas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thalia's shrew</span> Species of mammal

Thalia's shrew is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is endemic to Ethiopia. The mammal's natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests and high-elevation grasslands, and moist savanna.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Therese's shrew</span> Species of mammal

Therese's shrew is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is found in Ivory Coast, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and moist savanna.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Savanna path shrew</span> Species of mammal

The savanna path shrew is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is found in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, and Uganda. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, dry savanna, and heavily degraded former forest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whitaker's shrew</span> Species of mammal

Whitaker's shrew is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is found in Western Sahara, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, rocky and sandy coasts. It is a fairly common species and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated its conservation status as being of "least concern".

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Cassola, F. (2017) [errata version of 2016 assessment]. "Crocidura olivieri". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T41348A115180235. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T41348A22309617.en . Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 Kingdon, Jonathan; Happold, David; Butynski, Thomas; Hoffmann, Michael; Happold, Meredith & Kalina, Jan (2013). Mammals of Africa. A&C Black. pp. 118–119. ISBN   978-1-4081-8996-2.
  3. ↑ Woodman, Neal; Wilken, Alec T & Ikram, Salima (2019). "See how they ran: morphological and functional aspects of skeletons from ancient Egyptian shrew mummies (Eulipotyphla: Soricidae: Crocidurinae)". Journal of Mammalogy. 100 (4): 1199–1210. doi:10.1093/jmammal/gyz091.
  4. 1 2 Wilson & Reeder. "Crocidura olivieri". Mammal Species of the World. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  5. ↑ "shrew-mummy", University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology
  6. ↑ "Shrew-mouse surmounting shrine-shaped box", Metropolitan Museum of Art
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