Sylvisorex | |
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Lesser forest shrew (Sylvisorex oriundus) (lower image) | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Eulipotyphla |
Family: | Soricidae |
Subfamily: | Crocidurinae |
Genus: | Sylvisorex Thomas, 1904 |
Type species | |
Crocidura morio |
The forest shrews are the members of the genus Sylvisorex. They are mammals in the family Soricidae [1] and are found only in Africa. The genus name comes from the Latin world "silva" which means "forest" and "sorex", which means "shrew-mouse". This reflects the nature of these shrews, which prefer forest habitats. All shrews are carnivorous, and eat continually to satisfy their high metabolic rate. [2]
The genus contains these species:
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.
The white-toothed shrews or Crocidurinae are one of three subfamilies of the shrew family Soricidae.
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.
Myosorex is a mammal genus in the Soricidae (shrew) family. The genus, collectively referred to as the mouse shrews, contains these species:
The forest shrew is a species of shrew in the mouse shrew family, Soricidae. It is found in Lesotho, South Africa, and Eswatini. Its natural habitats include temperate forests, dry savanna, Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, and temperate grassland. The term "forest shrews" in the plural is sometimes confusingly used to collectively refer to a different genus, Sylvisorex.
Surdisorex is a genus of mammals in the family Soricidae. Surdisorex is one of three genera of African shrews, which, in turn, are one of three living subfamilies of shrews. Species in the genus Surdisorex are called African mole shrews because of their similarity to moles, to which they are not closely related.
The Cameroonian forest shrew is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is found in the Montane forests of Western Cameroon around Mount Oku and Lake Manengouba, and in Southeastern Nigeria in the Gotel Mountains or Adamawa Plateau.
Grant's forest shrew is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae found in the mountain forests of central Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.
Howell's forest shrew is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is endemic to Tanzania. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.
The Bioko forest shrew or Isabella's shrew is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae found in Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forest and subtropical or tropical high-elevation grassland.
Johnston's forest shrew is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae found in Burundi, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland and montane forest.
The moon forest shrew is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is found in Burundi, Rwanda, and Uganda. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.
The Mount Cameroon forest shrew or arrogant shrew, is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae endemic to Cameroon. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.
The greater forest shrew is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae found in Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and Nigeria. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest.
The lesser forest shrew is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae endemic to northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, where its type locality is at Medje. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest.
The rain forest shrew is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae endemic to Cameroon. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest. It is known only from its type locality, and from Kongana, Central African Republic.
The volcano shrew is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae found in the high-altitude rainforest of Burundi, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests and swamps. Its type locality is at Karisoke in Rwanda.
The Indochinese short-tailed shrew is a species of mammal of the family Soricidae found in China and Vietnam. The species is a semifossorial red-toothed shrew with a stout body and short, slender tail. Although this species was originally classified under Blarinella, recent Cytochrome b analysis suggests this species should be classified under a new genus, placing it in Parablarinella alongside one other species.
The Dudu Akaibe's pygmy shrew is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The Corbet's forest shrew is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is found in the Nigeria and Cameroon.