171.

Bornean Water Shrew

Chimarrogale phaeura

French: Chimarrogale de Bornéo / German: Borneo-Wasserspitzmaus / Spanish: Musgano de Borneo

Other common names: Borneo Water Shrew, Sunda Water Shrew

Taxonomy. Chimarrogale phaeura Thomas, 1898,

“ Saiap, Mount Kina Balu,” Sabah, Malaysia.

Chimarrogale phaeura was included in a different genus, Crossogale, but this is not sufficiently supported. Monotypic.

Distribution. Known from three mountain ranges (Mt Kinabalu, Crocker Range, and Mt Trus Madi) of Sabah State in N Borneo; it may be distributed in S Borneo.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 91-110 mm, tail 81-95 mm, hindfoot 19-26 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. Condylo-incisive lengths are 25-1-27-4 mm, and tooth rows are 11:4-11-9 mm. Tail is uniformly dark brown ventrally, back has

silver guard hairs, and sides of feet are covered with distinctive, short, stiff hairs. Medial tines (internal accessory notch) of upper incisors are well developed so that apexes (tips) are separated, and talons (posterior cusps) of these teeth are well developed. Braincase is not excessively broadened or flattened as in the Himalayan Water Shrew ( C. himalayica). There are three upper unicuspids. Cusps of teeth are unpigmented. Dental formula for all

species of Chimarrogaleis13/2,C1/0,P1/1,M 3/3 (x2) = 28.

Habitat. Moist habitats in montane forest and near streams in tropical forests and marshland habitats.

Food and Feeding. Diet of the Bornean Water Shrew primarily contains invertebrates.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. Bornean Water Shrews are semi-aquatic. They are presumably similar to the other species of Chimarrogale, swimming in rivers and streams and moving along their banks to higher ground.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Endangered on The IUCN Red List. The Bornean Water Shrew has a small known distribution of less than 5000 km*and occurs in restricted habitat, which is currently under threat from anthropogenic activities, especially logging.

Bibliography. Thomas (1898, 1921).