Greater white-toothed shrew

Last updated

Greater white-toothed shrew [1]
Crocidura HC2.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. russula
Binomial name
Crocidura russula
(Hermann, 1780)
Greater White-toothed Shrew area.png
Greater white-toothed shrew range

The greater white-toothed shrew (Crocidura russula) is a small insectivorous mammal [3] found in Europe and North Africa.

Contents

It is the most common of the white-toothed shrews. This species is found along the Mediterranean, Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland, Germany and Portugal; [4] in addition, the Osorio shrew of the Canary island of Gran Canaria, originally described as a separate species (Crocidura osorio), was later discovered to be a population of introduced greater white-toothed shrew. [5] Furthermore, a subspecies of the greater white-toothed shrew, Crocidura russula ibicensis, is found on the Mediterranean island of Ibiza. [6] In April 2008, the greater white-toothed shrew was discovered in Ireland as well. Its preferred habitats are grassland and woodland. It is slightly larger than the lesser white-toothed shrew but otherwise very similar and can often be distinguished only by close inspection of its teeth which are unpigmented. [7]

Physical description

C. russula Crocidura russula (Huisspitsmuis).jpg
C. russula

The greater white-toothed shrew is distinguished by a careful examination of its unpigmented teeth. Like other white-toothed shrews, C. russula lacks the deposition of iron in their enamel at the tips of their teeth. [8] This particular species has a greyish or reddish brown upper coat with a yellowish grey coat in the underside. [9] The greater white-toothed shrews are part of the medium-sized shrews and weigh around 11 to 14 grams. [3] The head and body length of C. russula is about 6 to 9 cm and the tail length averages to about 3 to 4.3 cm. [3]

Habitat

C. russula are found in temperate regions with plentiful insects. They are generally found in habitats such as grasslands, woodlands, hedgegrows and prime agricultural areas. To prepare for colder seasons, these shrews can be found living near farms and gardens. [3] The greater white-toothed shrews tend to build their nest under stones, logs and in abandoned burrows. Typically these shrews are found in elevations below 1000 meters. [3]

Diet

The greater white toothed shrew is a carnivore, feeding mainly on invertebrates and occasionally small rodents, lizards and small amphibians. [3]

Predation

The greater white-toothed shrew is preyed upon by several animals; owls (such as Tyto alba), snakes, and small carnivorous mammals such as weasels and genets are the main predators of C. russula. [6] In order to avoid predation, the greater white-toothed shrews can be found under cover of vegetation or leaf litter when active. Cryptic coloration is also used as an effective method to avoid predation. [10]

Behavior

The greater white-toothed shrews are classified as semi-social mammals. During winter, C. russula are found sharing nests and enter torpor. [11] Mated pairs are found guarding their territories together. [10] C. russula are highly monogamous and exhibit a female-biased dispersal, which is highly uncommon in mammals. This dispersal pattern can also occur due to infiltration and migration to empty breeding sites. Nonetheless, this dispersal pattern is a preventative measure for inbreeding. [3] The greater white-toothed shrew can be very vocal. C. russula possess a primitive form of echolocation where they produce a high pitched twittering call to interpret their environment. The use of this laryngeal call and vibrissae allow the shrews to find their way around their environment. [12] There have not been any concrete reports on the modes of communication used by this species, however, vocalization and tactile and chemical cues are likely to be used. [12]

Reproduction

The greater white-toothed shrew typically experiences one breeding season in its entire lifetime, whereby fertilization occurs right after parturition. [3] C. russula breed mainly from March to September, producing about four litters which can contain anywhere from 2 to 10 young. The sexual maturity in this species is fairly quick. The litters remain in their parental territory till the next breeding season. [3]

Life span

C. russula has a lifespan of about 18 months in the wild, but can survive for 30 months in captivity under laboratory conditions. [13]

Role in the ecosystem

C. russula serves as a prey species to many animals, however, an abundance in this species may lead to a decline in other small mammals such as pygmy shrews. In April 2008, the greater white-toothed shrew was discovered in Ireland and has since spread rapidly through the southern counties. [14] [15] While the introduction of the species will possibly sustain threatened birds of prey, such as the barn owl, the nonnative mammal could threaten some of the smaller native species, such as the Eurasian pygmy shrew. [14]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shrew</span> Family of mammals

Shrews are small mole-like mammals classified in the order Eulipotyphla. True shrews are not to be confused with treeshrews, otter shrews, elephant shrews, West Indies shrews, or marsupial shrews, which belong to different families or orders.

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

The Etruscan shrew, also known as the Etruscan pygmy shrew, white-toothed pygmy shrew and Savi’s pygmy shrew, is the smallest known extant mammal by mass, weighing only about 1.8 g (0.063 oz) on average.

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

The common shrew, also known as the Eurasian shrew, is the most common shrew, and one of the most common mammals, throughout Northern Europe, including Great Britain, but excluding Ireland. It is 55 to 82 millimetres long and weighs 5 to 12 grams, and has velvety dark brown fur with a pale underside. It is one of the rare venomous mammals. Juvenile shrews have lighter fur until their first moult. The common shrew has small eyes, a pointed, mobile snout and red-tipped teeth. It has a life span of approximately 14 months.

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

The Eurasian water shrew, known in the United Kingdom as the water shrew, is a relatively large shrew, up to 10 cm (4 in) long, with a tail up to three-quarters as long again. It has short, dark fur, often with a few white tufts, a white belly, and a few stiff hairs around the feet and tail. It lives close to fresh water, hunting aquatic prey in the water and nearby. Its fur traps bubbles of air in the water which greatly aids its buoyancy, but requires it to anchor itself to remain underwater for more than the briefest of dives.

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

The lesser white-toothed shrew is a small species of shrew with a widespread distribution in Africa, Asia and Europe. Its preferred habitat is scrub and gardens and it feeds on insects, arachnids, worms, gastropods, newts and small rodents, though its diet usually varies according to the biotope where it lives. The closely related Asian lesser white-toothed shrew was once included in this species, but is now considered to be a separate species.

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

The Asian house shrew is a shrew species native to South and Southeast Asia that has been listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List since 2008 because of its large population and wide distribution. It has been introduced in several West Asian and East African countries. It is considered an invasive species and implicated in the demise of several island lizard species.

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

Wimmer's shrew is a white-toothed shrew found only in Côte d'Ivoire. It is listed as a critically endangered species due to habitat loss and a restricted range.

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

The Dsinezumi shrew, also known as the Japanese white-toothed shrew, is a species of musk shrew found in Japan and on Korea's Jeju Island. It is widespread, and considered to be of "least concern" by the IUCN.

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

The North African hedgehog or Algerian hedgehog, is a mammal species in the family Erinaceidae native to Algeria, Libya, Malta, Morocco, Spain, and Tunisia. Little is known about this hedgehog, even though the most common breed of domesticated hedgehogs is a result of crossing a four-toed hedgehog with a North African hedgehog. Because this species of hedgehog is native to Africa, it has been suggested that it was introduced by humans to the other countries where it is now found, including Spain and the Canary Islands. Of the four African hedgehog species, the North African hedgehog is the only one of these hedgehogs that occurs outside Africa. Because the North African hedgehog has such a wide habitat range and has a seemingly stable population, both in the wild and in the domesticated capacity, it does not appear to currently be at risk.

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

The bicolored shrew or bicoloured white-toothed shrew is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is found in eastern, central and southern Europe and in western Asia. It is a nocturnal species and feeds on insects and other small creatures. Several litters of young are born during the warmer months of the year in a nest of dry grasses in a concealed location.

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

The black-footed shrew 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".

<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">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">Christmas Island shrew</span> Species of mammal

The Christmas Island shrew, also known as the Christmas Island musk-shrew is an extremely rare or possibly extinct shrew from Christmas Island. It was variously placed as subspecies of the Asian gray shrew or the Southeast Asian shrew, but morphological differences and the large distance between the species indicate that it is an entirely distinct species.

References

  1. Hutterer, R. (2005). Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 248. ISBN   978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC   62265494.
  2. Aulagnier, S.; Hutterer, R.; Amori, G.; Kryštufek, B.; Yigit, N.; Mitsainas, G.; Palomo, L. (2021) [amended version of 2016 assessment]. "Crocidura russula". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2021: e.T29652A197503499. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T29652A197503499.en . Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Duarte, L.C.; Bouteiller, C; Fontanillas, IP; Petit, E; Perrin, N (2003). "Inbreeding in the Greater White-Toothed Shrew, Crocidura russula" (PDF). Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution. 57 (3): 638–45. doi:10.1554/0014-3820(2003)057[0638:iitgws]2.0.co;2. JSTOR   3094775. PMID   12703953. S2CID   198155850.
  4. David R Stone (1995). "Eurasian Insectivores and Tree Shrews- Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan". Archived from the original on 2014-12-26. Retrieved 2011-11-28.
  5. Molina, O. et al. (2003) "The origin of the Osorian shrew (Crocidura osorio) from Gran Canaria resolved using mtDNA". Italian Journal of Zoology, Volume 70, Issue 2
  6. 1 2 Antoni Alcover, J., ed. (1988). "Mamífers Actuals". els Mamífers de les Balears. Palma de Mallorca: Editorial Moll. pp. 85–87. ISBN   84-273-0265-7.
  7. Nowak, Ronald, M. (1999). Walker's Mammals of the World . The Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN   978-0-8018-5789-8.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. Churchfield, Sara (1999). Shrews of the British Isles. Aylesbury: Shire Publications. ISBN   978-0852639511.
  9. Morris, P. A red data book for the British Mammals. The Mammal Society, London.
  10. 1 2 Balloux, F; J. Goudet; Perrin, N. (2003). "Breeding system and genetic variance in the monogamous, semi-social shrew, Crocidura russula" (PDF). Evolution. 52 (4): 1230–1235. doi:10.2307/2411254. JSTOR   2411254. PMID   28565220.
  11. Cantoni, D.; Vogel, P (1989). "Social organization and mating system of free-ranging, greater white-toothed shrew, Crocidura russula". Animal Behaviour. 38 (2): 205–214. doi:10.1016/S0003-3472(89)80083-1. S2CID   54320480.
  12. 1 2 Siemers, B. M.; Schauermann, G.; Turni, H.; Von Merten, S. (2009). "Why do shrews twitter? Communication or simple echo-based orientation". Biology Letters. 5 (5): 593–6. doi:10.1098/rsbl.2009.0378. PMC   2781971 . PMID   19535367.
  13. Magnanou, Elodie; Attia, Joël; Fons, Roger; Boeuf, Gilles; Falcon, Jack (2009). Bartell, Paul A (ed.). "The Timing of the Shrew: Continuous Melatonin Treatment Maintains Youthful Rhythmic Activity in Aging Crocidura russula". PLOS ONE. 4 (6): e5904. Bibcode:2009PLoSO...4.5904M. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0005904 . PMC   2690841 . PMID   19526053.
  14. 1 2 "For Good Or Ill, Ireland Gains Another Mammal Species". Science Daily. 2008-04-28. Retrieved 2008-05-07.
  15. McDevitt, Allan D.; Montgomery, W. Ian; Tosh, David G.; Lusby, John; Reid, Neil; White, Thomas A.; McDevitt, C. Damien; O'Halloran, John; Searle, Jeremy B.; Yearsley, Jon M. (2014-06-23). "Invading and Expanding: Range Dynamics and Ecological Consequences of the Greater White-Toothed Shrew (Crocidura russula) Invasion in Ireland". PLOS ONE. 9 (6): e100403. Bibcode:2014PLoSO...9j0403M. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0100403 . PMC   4067332 . PMID   24955824.