201.

Remy’s Pygmy Shrew

Suncus remyi

French: Pachyure de Rémy / German: Remy-Wimperspitzmaus / Spanish: Musarana enana de Remy

Other common names: Gabon Dwarf Shrew, Remy’s Dwarf Shrew, Remy’s Shrew

Taxonomy. Suncus remyi Brosset, Dubost & Heim de Balsac, 1965,

Makokou, Gabon.

The seven species of endemically African Suncus seem to be more closely related to Sylvisorex than to other species of Suncus . They might be better placed in Sylvisorex but are retained in Suncus here until additional research is conducted. Suncus remyi seems to be closest to S. infinitesimus based on genetic data. Monotypic.

Distribution. NE Gabon, NW Republic of

the Congo, and SW Central African Republic in WC Africa; possibly also in SW Cameroon.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 42-49 mm, tail 17-21 mm, ear 5-6 mm, hindfoot 6-7 mm; weight 1-5-1-8 g. Remy’s Pygmy Shrew is one of the smallest living shrews and mammals (very similar in size to the Etruscan Shrew, S. etruscus) based on weight and has fine, short, and dense fur. Dorsum of Remy’s Pygmy Shrew is rich reddish brown to rufous brown (hairs gray at bases with rest being reddish brown), and venter is slightly paler than dorsum. Head is long and narrow, with narrow and pointed muzzle; ears are rounded, naked, and conspicuous; and eyes are small. Feet are dark reddish brown, with small claws. Tail is ¢.41% of head-body length, thin, covered with short dark hairs on basal 50-80% of length, and uniformly dark brown. There are four unicuspids, and fourth is very small; teeth are unpigmented white.

Habitat. Primary moist rainforest and secondary marshy forest.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. A pregnant Remy’s Pygmy Shrew with one embryo was captured in August. Litters seem to have only one young.

Activity patterns. No information.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. Remy’s Pygmy Shrew has a relatively small distribution but is found in Minkébé National Park in Gabon. It does not seem to face any major threats other than localized habitat loss and degradation.

Bibliography. Brosset (1988), Brosset et al. (1965b), Cassola (2017d), Dubey, Salamin, Ohdachi et al. (2007), Dubey, Salamin, Ruedi et al. (2008), Goodman & Hutterer (2004), Goodman et al. (2001), Happold (20130), Quérouil et al. (2001), Ray & Hutterer (1996).