List of myosoricines

Forest shrew (Myosorex varius)

Myosoricinae is a subfamily of small mammals in the shrew family Soricidae, which in turn is part of the order Eulipotyphla. A member of this family is called a myosoricine, or an African shrew. Myosoricinae is one of three subfamilies in Soricidae, along with the white-toothed shrews of Crocidurinae and the red-toothed shrews of Soricinae. They are found in central and southern Africa, primarily in forests, and also in shrublands, grasslands, and wetlands. They range in size from the lesser Congo shrew, at 5 cm (2 in) plus a 1 cm (0.4 in) tail, to various members of the Myosorex and Surdisorex genera, at 11 cm (4 in) plus a 7 cm (3 in) tail. Myosoricines primarily eat insects and other invertebrates, as well as small birds and mammals. No myosoricines have population estimates, but 7 species are categorized as endangered species: the Geata mouse shrew, Kihaule's mouse shrew, long-tailed forest shrew, montane mouse shrew, Nyika burrowing shrew, Rumpi mouse shrew, and thin mouse shrew. Additionally, the Phillips' Congo shrew and Eisentraut's mouse shrew are categorized as critically endangered.

The 25 extant species of Myosoricinae are divided into three genera; 19 of them are in Myosorex and 3 each are in Congosorex and Surdisorex. A few extinct prehistoric Myosoricinae species have been discovered, though due to ongoing research and discoveries the exact number and categorization is not fixed. ^[1]

Conventions

IUCN Red List categories

Conservation status
EX	Extinct (0 species)
EW	Extinct in the wild (0 species)
CR	Critically Endangered (2 species)
EN	Endangered (7 species)
VU	Vulnerable (5 species)
NT	Near threatened (8 species)
LC	Least concern (6 species)
Other categories
DD	Data deficient (5 species)
NE	Not evaluated (0 species)

Conservation status codes listed follow the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Range maps are provided wherever possible; if a range map is not available, a description of the myosoricine's range is provided. Ranges are based on the IUCN Red List for that species unless otherwise noted.

Classification

The subfamily Myosoricinae consists of three genera: Myosorex , containing 19 species, and Congosorex and Surdisorex with three species each.

Subfamily Myosoricinae

• Genus Congosorex (Congo shrews): three species
• Genus Myosorex (mouse shrews): nineteen species
• Genus Surdisorex (African mole shrews): three species

Myosoricines

The following classification is based on the taxonomy described by the reference work Mammal Species of the World (2005), with augmentation by generally accepted proposals made since using molecular phylogenetic analysis, as supported by both the IUCN and the American Society of Mammalogists. ^[2]

Main article: Myosoricinae

Genus Congosorex – Heim de Balsac & Lamotte, 1956 – three species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Greater Congo shrew	C. polli (Heim de Balsac & Lamotte, 1956)	Democratic Republic of the Congo	Size: About 6 cm (2 in) long, plus 2 cm (1 in) tail [3] Habitat: Forest [4] Diet: Invertebrates [5]	DD  Unknown [4]
Lesser Congo shrew	C. verheyeni Hutterer, Barriere, & Colyn, 2002	West-central Africa	Size: 5–10 cm (2–4 in) long, plus 1–3 cm (0.4–1.2 in) tail [6] Habitat: Forest [7] Diet: Invertebrates [5]	LC  Unknown [7]
Phillips' Congo shrew	C. phillipsorum Stanley, Rogers, & Hutterer, 2005	Tanzania	Size: 6–8 cm (2–3 in) long, plus 3–4 cm (1–2 in) tail [8] Habitat: Forest [9] Diet: Invertebrates [5]	CR  Unknown [9]

Genus Myosorex – Gray, 1838 – nineteen species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Babault's mouse shrew	M. babaulti Heim de Balsac & Lamotte, 1956	Central Africa	Size: 6–11 cm (2–4 in) long, plus 2–7 cm (1–3 in) tail [10] Habitat: Forest and inland wetlands [11] Diet: Insects, as well as small birds and mammals [12]	LC  Unknown [11]
Bururi forest shrew	M. bururiensis Kerbis Peterhans et al., 2010	Burundi	Size: 6–11 cm (2–4 in) long, plus 2–7 cm (1–3 in) tail [10] Habitat: Forest [13] Diet: Insects, as well as small birds and mammals [12]	VU  Unknown [13]
Dark-footed mouse shrew	M. cafer (Sundevall, 1846)	Southern Africa	Size: 6–11 cm (2–4 in) long, plus 2–7 cm (1–3 in) tail [10] Habitat: Forest [14] Diet: Insects, as well as small birds and mammals [12]	VU  Unknown [14]
Eisentraut's mouse shrew	M. eisentrauti Heim de Balsac, 1968	Bioko island in Equatorial Guinea	Size: 7–9 cm (3–4 in) long, plus 3–5 cm (1–2 in) tail [15] Habitat: Forest [16] Diet: Insects, as well as small birds and mammals [12]	CR  Unknown [16]
Forest shrew	M. varius (Smuts, 1832)	Southern Africa	Size: 7–9 cm (3–4 in) long, plus 3–5 cm (1–2 in) tail [17] Habitat: Forest, savanna, shrubland, and grassland [18] Diet: A variety of invertebrates [19]	LC  Unknown [18]
Geata mouse shrew	M. geata (Allen & Loveridge, 1927)	Tanzania	Size: 6–8 cm (2–3 in) long, plus 4–5 cm (2–2 in) tail [20] Habitat: Forest [21] Diet: Insects, as well as small birds and mammals [12]	EN  Unknown [21]
Kabogo mouse shrew	M. kabogoensis Kerbis Peterhans & Hutterer, 2013	Democratic Republic of the Congo	Size: 6–11 cm (2–4 in) long, plus 2–7 cm (1–3 in) tail [10] Habitat: Forest [22] Diet: Insects, as well as small birds and mammals [12]	DD  Unknown [22]
Kahuzi swamp shrew	M. jejei Kerbis Peterhans et al., 2010	Democratic Republic of the Congo	Size: 6–11 cm (2–4 in) long, plus 2–7 cm (1–3 in) tail [10] Habitat: Forest and inland wetlands [23] Diet: Insects, as well as small birds and mammals [12]	VU  Unknown [23]
Kihaule's mouse shrew	M. kihaulei Stanley, 2000	Tanzania	Size: 7–9 cm (3–4 in) long, plus 3–5 cm (1–2 in) tail [24] Habitat: Forest [25] Diet: Insects, as well as small birds and mammals [12]	EN  Unknown [25]
Kilimanjaro mouse shrew	M. zinki Heim de Balsac & Lamotte, 1956	Tanzania	Size: 8–10 cm (3–4 in) long, plus 3–5 cm (1–2 in) tail [17] Habitat: Forest, shrubland, grassland, and inland wetlands [26] Diet: Insects, as well as small birds and mammals [12]	LC  Unknown [26]
Long-tailed forest shrew	M. longicaudatus Dippenaar & Meester, 1978 Two subspecies M. l. boosmani M. l. longicaudatus	South Africa	Size: 7–9 cm (3–4 in) long, plus 4–8 cm (2–3 in) tail [27] Habitat: Forest, inland wetlands, and shrubland [28] Diet: Insects and seeds [28]	EN  Unknown [28]
Meester's forest shrew	M. meesteri Taylor, Kearney, Kerbis Peterhans, Baxter, & Willows-Munro, 2013	Southeastern Africa	Size: 6–11 cm (2–4 in) long, plus 2–7 cm (1–3 in) tail [10] Habitat: Forest and grassland [29] Diet: Insects, as well as small birds and mammals [12]	LC  Unknown [29]
Montane mouse shrew	M. blarina Thomas, 1906	Uganda	Size: 6–11 cm (2–4 in) long, plus 2–7 cm (1–3 in) tail [10] Habitat: Forest and inland wetlands [30] Diet: Insects, as well as small birds and mammals [12]	EN  Unknown [30]
Nyika burrowing shrew	M. gnoskei Kerbis Peterhans, Hutterer, Kaliba, & Mazibuko, 2008	Malawi	Size: 6–11 cm (2–4 in) long, plus 2–7 cm (1–3 in) tail [10] Habitat: Forest and shrubland [31] Diet: Insects, as well as small birds and mammals [12]	EN  Unknown [31]
Oku mouse shrew	M. okuensis Heim de Balsac, 1968	Cameroon	Size: 6–11 cm (2–4 in) long, plus 2–7 cm (1–3 in) tail [10] Habitat: Forest [32] Diet: Insects, as well as small birds and mammals [12]	VU  Unknown [32]
Rumpi mouse shrew	M. rumpii Heim de Balsac, 1968	Cameroon	Size: 6–11 cm (2–4 in) long, plus 2–7 cm (1–3 in) tail [10] Habitat: Forest [33] Diet: Insects, as well as small birds and mammals [12]	EN  Unknown [33]
Schaller's mouse shrew	M. schalleri Heim de Balsac, 1966	Democratic Republic of Congo	Size: 6–11 cm (2–4 in) long, plus 2–7 cm (1–3 in) tail [10] Habitat: Forest [34] Diet: Insects, as well as small birds and mammals [12]	DD  Unknown [34]
Sclater's mouse shrew	M. sclateri Thomas & Schwann, 1905	South Africa	Size: 6–11 cm (2–4 in) long, plus 2–7 cm (1–3 in) tail [10] Habitat: Inland wetlands and forest [35] Diet: Insects, as well as small birds and mammals [12]	VU  Unknown [35]
Thin mouse shrew	M. tenuis Thomas & Schwann, 1905	South Africa	Size: 7–10 cm (3–4 in) long, plus 3–5 cm (1–2 in) tail [36] Habitat: Grassland [37] Diet: Insects, as well as small birds and mammals [12]	EN  Unknown [37]

Genus Surdisorex – Thomas, 1906 – three species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Aberdare mole shrew	S. norae Thomas, 1906	Kenya	Size: 6–11 cm (2–4 in) long, plus 2–7 cm (1–3 in) tail [10] Habitat: Grassland [38] Diet: Earthworms, as well as insects, small birds, and mammals [12]	LC  Unknown [38]
Mount Elgon mole shrew	S. schlitteri Kerbis Peterhans, Stanley, Hutterer, Demos, & Agwanda, 2009	Kenya	Size: 6–11 cm (2–4 in) long, plus 2–7 cm (1–3 in) tail [10] Habitat: Shrubland [39] Diet: Insects, as well as small birds and mammals [12]	DD  Unknown [39]
Mount Kenya mole shrew	S. polulus Hollister, 1916	Kenya	Size: 6–11 cm (2–4 in) long, plus 2–7 cm (1–3 in) tail [10] Habitat: Grassland [40] Diet: Earthworms, as well as insects, small birds, and mammals [12]	DD  Unknown [40]

References

1. "Fossilworks: Soricidae". Paleobiology Database . University of Wisconsin–Madison. Archived from the original on May 31, 2023. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
2. Wilson, Reeder, pp. 263-266
3. Kingdon, p. 52
4. Gerrie, R.; Kennerley, R. (2017) [errata version of 2016 assessment]. "Congosorex polli". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T5221A115071815. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T5221A22290128.en .
5. Kingdon, p. 43
6. Kingdon, p. 53
7. Hutterer, R. (2017). "Congosorex verheyeni". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2017: e.T44935A22290312. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T44935A22290312.en .
8. Kingdon, p. 51
9. Kennerley, R. (2017) [errata version of 2016 assessment]. "Congosorex phillipsorum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T136343A115206194. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T136343A22290201.en .
10. Nowak, p. 217
11. Gerrie, R.; Kennerley, R. (2019). "Myosorex babaulti". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2019: e.T41380A22287111. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T41380A22287111.en .
12. Nowak, p. 218
13. Engelbrektsson, P. (2016). "Myosorex bururiensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T45954374A45973041. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T45954374A45973041.en .
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15. Kingdon, p. 154
16. Gazzard, A.; Cronin, D. T.; Hearn, G. (2023). "Myosorex eisentrauti". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2023: e.T14106A238804788. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2023-1.RLTS.T14106A238804788.en .
17. Kingdon, p. 163
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20. Kingdon, p. 155
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24. Kingdon, p. 156
25. Kennerley, R. (2019). "Myosorex kihaulei". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2019: e.T45047A22287518. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T45047A22287518.en .
26. Kennerley, R. (2017) [errata version of 2016 assessment]. "Myosorex zinki". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T45048A115201876. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T45048A22287643.en .
27. Kingdon, p. 157
28. Baxter, R.; Willows-Munro, S.; Taylor, P. (2020). "Myosorex longicaudatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2020: e.T14108A22286725. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T14108A22286725.en .
29. Dando, T. (2021). "Myosorex meesteri". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2021: e.T110661822A110662102. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T110661822A110662102.en .
30. Kerbis Peterhans, J.; Demos, T. (2021). "Myosorex blarina". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2021: e.T14111A22286334. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T14111A22286334.en .
31. Engelbrektsson, P. (2016). "Myosorex gnoskei". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T45954382A45973051. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T45954382A45973051.en .
32. Kennerley, R. (2017) [errata version of 2016 assessment]. "Myosorex okuensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T14112A115120383. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T14112A22286447.en .
33. Kennerley, R. (2017) [errata version of 2016 assessment]. "Myosorex rumpii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T14113A115120529. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T14113A22287321.en .
34. Kennerley, R. (2017) [errata version of 2016 assessment]. "Myosorex schalleri". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T14110A115120282. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T14110A22286538.en .
35. Taylor, P.; Baxter, R. (2020). "Myosorex sclateri". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2020: e.T14114A22287210. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T14114A22287210.en .
36. Kingdon, p. 161
37. Taylor, P.; Willows-Munro, S.; Baxter, R.; Monadjem, A.; Child, M. F. (2021). "Myosorex tenuis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2021: e.T110662121A22287436. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T110662121A22287436.en .
38. Kennerley, R. (2017) [errata version of 2016 assessment]. "Surdisorex norae". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T21134A115160143. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T21134A22290472.en .
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40. Kennerley, R. (2017) [errata version of 2016 assessment]. "Surdisorex polulus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T21135A115160262. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T21135A22290384.en .

Sources

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