Black-footed shrew

Last updated

Black-footed shrew
Curut Crocidura nigripes Miller and Hollister, 1921.jpg
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Eulipotyphla
Family: Soricidae
Genus: Crocidura
Species:
C. nigripes
Binomial name
Crocidura nigripes
Miller & Hollister, 1921
Black-footed Shrew area.png
Black-footed shrew range

The black-footed shrew (Crocidura nigripes) is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is endemic to northern and central Sulawesi, Indonesia where it lives on the floor of the tropical forests. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being of "least concern".

Contents

Taxonomy

The black-footed shrew was first described in 1921 by the American zoologists Gerrit Smith Miller Jr. and Hollister as Crocidura nigripes. The type locality is southwest of Lake Tondano, Temboan in North Sulawesi. Crocidura nigripes is part of an assemblage of shrews endemic to northern and central Sulawesi which also includes the Sulawesi white-handed shrew (Crocidura rhoditis), the Sulawesi shrew (Crocidura lea), the elongated shrew (Crocidura elongata) and the mossy forest shrew (Crocidura musseri). [2]

Its evolutionary proximity to the Sabahan lineage of the Bornean shrew, C. foetida sensu lato and C. baluensis, might suggest a human-mediated introduction to Sulawesi. [3]

Description

The Sulawesi black-footed shrew is a small species of white-toothed shrew; it lacks the deposits of iron in the enamel of the teeth which is seen in the red-toothed shrews. The dorsal pelage is short and velvety, being greyish-brown or reddish-brown and the underside is paler. The ears are prominent, the legs are short, the feet are black, and the tail is long and clothed with a scattering of long hairs. [4]

Distribution and habitat

The Sulawesi black-footed shrew is endemic to the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia. It occurs in the central and northern part of the island at altitudes of up to about 3,000 m (10,000 ft) above sea level. Its habitat is the floor of both lowland and montane tropical forests where it forages among the leaf litter. It is thought to be nocturnal, but very little is known about its habits and life cycle. [1]

Status

The Sulawesi black-footed shrew has a wide range and is believed to be present in several protected areas. The population trend appears to be steady and no particular threats to this species have been recognised although it is likely to be adversely affected by forest clearance. It is not clear whether it can adapt to alternative habitats when woodland is felled. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being of "least concern". [1]

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.

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

The São Tomé shrew is a white-toothed shrew about 3.0 in (7.6 cm) long found only on São Tomé Island, São Tomé and Príncipe. It is listed as a critically endangered species due to habitat loss and a restricted range. It was discovered in 1886. The population continues to decrease, making these animals rare. It is found only on São Tomé Island, a small island that is actually a shield volcano that rises out of the Atlantic Ocean.

<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">Cyrenaica shrew</span> Species of mammal

The Cyrenaica shrew or Alexander's shrew is a species of white-toothed shrew in the family Soricidae which is endemic to Libya.

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

The Asian gray shrew is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is found in Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. It is one of the commonest species within its range and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being of "least concern".

<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">Elongated shrew</span> Species of mammal

The elongated shrew is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is endemic to the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia. It lives in the forests of central, northern, and eastern Sulawesi from 200 to 2000 meters elevation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smoky white-toothed shrew</span> Species of mammal

The smoky white-toothed shrew is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is endemic to Kenya. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.

<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">Andaman spiny shrew</span> Species of mammal

The Andaman spiny shrew or Andaman shrew is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is endemic to India. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests.

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

The Sulawesi shrew is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is endemic to the central and northern provinces of Sulawesi in Indonesia. It is a fairly common species and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being of "least concern".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Montane white-toothed shrew</span> Species of mammal

The montane white-toothed shrew is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is found in Kenya, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forest and subtropical or tropical seasonally wet or flooded lowland grassland. It is threatened by habitat loss.

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

The African giant shrew is a species of white-toothed shrew. It also is known as, Mann's musk shrew, Euchareena's musk shrew, or Olivier's shrew. 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".

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

The small-footed shrew is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is found in Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and shrubland.

<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">Sulawesi white-handed shrew</span> Species of mammal

The Sulawesi white-handed shrew or Temboan shrew is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is endemic to the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia. It is a fairly common species and the population seems stable so the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being of "least concern".

<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".

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

The Cretan shrew is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is endemic and exclusive to the island of Crete, Greece. Its natural habitat is temperate shrubland, and the animal is threatened by habitat loss. It is found in the mountainous highlands of Crete, having been displaced from lower altitudes by the lesser white-toothed shrew.

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

Kihaule's mouse shrew is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae endemic to Tanzania where it is known only from the Udzungwa Mountains, at the western end of the Eastern Arc Mountains. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests and plantations. It is threatened by habitat destruction and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being "endangered". It was named after Philip M. Kihaule, a medical-entomological technician, who considerably contributed to the documenting of the small mammals of Tanzania and collected the type specimen of this shrew.

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

The Bornean shrew is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is found only on Borneo, throughout most of the island; it may or may not be present in Brunei.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Cassola, F. (2019). "Crocidura nigripes". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2019: e.T41447A22301211. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T41447A22301211.en . Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  2. Don E. Wilson; DeeAnn M. Reeder (2005). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. JHU Press. p. 243. ISBN   978-0-8018-8221-0.
  3. Arlo Hinckley, Miguel Camacho-Sanchez, Manuel Ruedi, Melissa T R Hawkins, Madeleine Mullon, Anna Cornellas, Fred Tuh Yit Yuh, Jennifer A Leonard, Evolutionary history of Sundaland shrews (Eulipotyphla: Soricidae: Crocidura) with a focus on Borneo, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlab045
  4. R. David Stone (1995). Eurasian Insectivores and Tree Shrews: Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan. IUCN. p. 15. ISBN   978-2-8317-0062-5.