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
edit| Conservation status | |
|---|---|
| EX | Extinct (0 species) |
| EW | Extinct in the wild (0 species) |
| CR | Critically Endangered (2 species) |
| EN | Endangered (7 species) |
| VU | Vulnerable (4 species) |
| NT | Near threatened (9 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
editThe 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
editThe 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]
| 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
|
| 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
|
| 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
|
| 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
|
| 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
|
| 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
|
| 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
|
| 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
|
| 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
|
| 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
|
| 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] |
NT
|
| 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
|
| 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
|
| Long-tailed forest shrew
|
M. longicaudatus Dippenaar & Meester, 1978 Two subspecies
|
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
|
| 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
|
| 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
|
| 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
|
| 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
|
| 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
|
| 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
|
| 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
|
| 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
|
| 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
|
| 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
|
| 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
|
References
edit- ^ "Fossilworks: Soricidae". Paleobiology Database. University of Wisconsin–Madison. Archived from the original on May 31, 2023. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- ^ Wilson, Reeder, pp. 263-266
- ^ Kingdon, p. 52
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ a b c Kingdon, p. 43
- ^ Kingdon, p. 53
- ^ a b Hutterer, R. (2017). "Congosorex verheyeni". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T44935A22290312. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T44935A22290312.en.
- ^ Kingdon, p. 51
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Nowak, p. 217
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Nowak, p. 218
- ^ a b Engelbrektsson, P. (2016). "Myosorex bururiensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T45954374A45973041. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T45954374A45973041.en.
- ^ a b Baxter, R.; Taylor, P. J.; Willows-Munro, S. (2020). "Myosorex cafer". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T110660763A50585251. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T110660763A50585251.en.
- ^ Kingdon, p. 154
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ a b Kingdon, p. 163
- ^ a b Cassola, F. (2017) [errata version of 2016 assessment]. "Myosorex varius". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T41382A115519477. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T41382A22286929.en.
- ^ Joseph, Jency (2011). "Myosorex varius". Animal Diversity Web. University of Michigan. Archived from the original on March 31, 2024. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
- ^ Kingdon, p. 155
- ^ a b Kennerley, R. (2017) [errata version of 2016 assessment]. "Myosorex geata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T14107A115120122. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T14107A22286611.en.
- ^ a b Plumptre, A.; Dando, T.; Kennerley, R. (2019). "Myosorex kabogoensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T112042073A112042093. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T112042073A112042093.en.
- ^ a b Engelbrektsson, P.; Kennerley, R. (2020) [amended version of 2016 assessment]. "Myosorex jejei". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T45954378A166522323. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-1.RLTS.T45954378A166522323.en.
- ^ Kingdon, p. 156
- ^ a b Kennerley, R. (2019). "Myosorex kihaulei". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T45047A22287518. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T45047A22287518.en.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ Kingdon, p. 157
- ^ a b c 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.
- ^ a b Dando, T. (2021). "Myosorex meesteri". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T110661822A110662102. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T110661822A110662102.en.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ a b Engelbrektsson, P. (2016). "Myosorex gnoskei". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T45954382A45973051. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T45954382A45973051.en.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ Kingdon, p. 161
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ a b Engelbrektsson, P. (2016). "Surdisorex schlitteri". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T45954401A45973061. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T45954401A45973061.en.
- ^ a b 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
edit- Kingdon, Jonathan (2014). Mammals of Africa. Vol. IV: Hedgehogs, Shrews and Bats. A & C Black. ISBN 978-1-4081-8993-1.
- Nowak, Ronald M. (1999). Walker's Mammals of the World. Vol. 1. Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 978-0-8018-5789-8.
- Hutterer, Rainer (2005). Wilson, Don E.; Reeder, DeeAnn M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World. Vol. 1 (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0.