Cryptotis gracilis, G. S. Miller, 1911

Russell A. Mittermeier & Don E. Wilson, 2018, Soricidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 8 Insectivores, Sloths and Colugos, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 332-551 : 434

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.6870843

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6869822

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/3D474A54-A000-876C-FA26-AA511ADDF8BD

treatment provided by

Felipe

scientific name

Cryptotis gracilis
status

 

109 View On .

Talamancan Broad-clawed Shrew

Cryptotis gracilis View in CoL

French: Musaraigne de Talamanca / German: Talamancan-Kleinohrspitzmaus / Spanish: Musarafna de ufas anchas de Talamanca

Other common names: Talamancan Small-eared Shrew

Taxonomy. Cryptotis gracilis G. S. Miller, 1911 View in CoL ,

“ head of Lani River , near base of Pico Blanco, Talamanca, Costa Rica. Alti- tude about 6,000 feet [= 1829 m].”

Cryptotis gracilis is in the C. goodwini group. It was regarded as a relict species by J. R. Choate in 1970 and was found to be basal to all other species in the C. goodwini group by A. B. Baird and colleagues in 2018. P. A. Moreno in 2017 found that a specimen of C. gracilis was more nested in

the C. thomasi group,sister to a clade including C. equatoris and C. osgoodi, but additional sampling is needed. Monotypic.

Distribution. Highlands from NC Costa Rica S to W Panama. View Figure

Descriptive notes. Head-body 60-79 mm,tail 30-41 mm, hindfoot 13-15 mm; weight 5-10 g. The Talamancan Broad-clawed Shrew is small to medium-sized. Dorsum is dark blackish brown, and venter is slightly lighter charcoal gray. Feet are relatively long and broad, with long wide claws. Tail is relatively long (¢.50% of head—body length), covered with short hair, and blackish brown. Eyes are diminutive, and ears are small and barely visible under fur. Skull is unusually narrow and elongated; fourth unicuspid is partially visible in lateral view; incisors and unicuspids are similar to those of the Big Mexican Small-eared Shrew (C. magnus). Teeth are reddish, and there are four unicuspids.

Habitat. Highland oak forests and paramo at elevations of 1800-3400 m.

Food and Feeding. There is no specific information available for this species, but the Talamancan Broad-clawed Shrew probably eats various insects and other invertebrates.

Breeding. Breeding ofthe Talamancan Broad-clawed Shrew might occur year-round, and litters have 1-4 young.

Activity patterns. No information.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Vulnerable on The IUCN Red List. The Talamancan Broad-clawed Shrew has a relatively restricted distribution and is found in various nature reserves and natural parks. Major threats are deforestation and possibly habitat loss from agricultural and urban development.

Bibliography. Baird et al. (2018), Choate (1970), Hutterer (2005b), Matson, Woodman, Reid & Pino (2008), Moreno (2017), Reid (2009), Woodman & Timm (1992, 1999, 2000).

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Mammalia

Order

Soricomorpha

Family

Soricidae

Genus

Cryptotis

Loc

Cryptotis gracilis

Russell A. Mittermeier & Don E. Wilson 2018
2018
Loc

Cryptotis gracilis

G. S. Miller 1911
1911
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