328.

Guramba White-toothed Shrew

Crocidura phaeura

French: Crocidure du Guramba / German: Guramba-WeiRRzahnspitzmaus / Spanish: Musarana de Guramba

Other common names: Guramba Shrew

Taxonomy. Crocidura hildegardeae phaeura Osgood, 1936,

Mount Guramba (west base), north-east of Allata, Sidamo, Ethiopia.

The placement of C. phaeura is currently uncertain. It was originally treated as a subspecies of C. hildegardeae but is now considered a distinct species. Based on cranial characteristics, it seems to be similar to C. montis and C. fumosa within the luna-fumosa species complex but it is ap-

parently related to C. harenna . Monotypic.

Distribution. Known only from Mt Guramba and Nachisar National Park, W of the Rift Valley in W Ethiopia.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 60-80 mm, tail 48-57 mm, ear 8-10 mm, hindfoot 12— 14 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. The Guramba White-toothed Shrew is a small to medium-sized shrew. Dorsal pelage is dark blackish-brown; ventral pelage is slightly paler. Hindfeet are relatively long (18-6% of head-body length). Tail is medium in length (c.53% of head-body length), completely dark blackish brown, and covered in long bristle hairs. Braincase is relatively broad and deep; the second unicuspid is slightly smaller than the third; M? is more robust than in any other species of African Crocidura . There are three unicuspids.

Habitat. Montane and riverine forest along the Ethiopian Rift Valley at elevations of 1100-2400 m.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. Guramba White-toothed Shrews are terrestrial.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Endangered on The [UCN Red List. The Guramba White-toothed Shrew is considered rare with a very restricted distribution which includes the Nechisar National Park. The species may be threatened by the conversion of land to agricultural use.

Bibliography. Duckworth et al. (1993), Happold & Yalden (2013b), Heim de Balsac & Meester (1977), Hutterer (1981a), Hutterer & Yalden (1990), Lavrenchenko (2016c), Yalden & Largen (1992), Yalden, Largen & Kock (1976), Yalden, Largen, Kock & Hillman (1996).