Suncus etruscus (Savi, 1822)
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https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.6870843 |
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https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6869974 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/3D474A54-A069-8705-FF25-AD8915EEF9C1 |
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Felipe |
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scientific name |
Suncus etruscus |
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Etruscan Shrew
French: Pachyure étrusque / German: Wimperspitzmaus / Spanish: Musaranita
Other common names: Common Dwarf Shrew, Etruscan Dwarf Shrew, Pygmy White-toothed Shrew, Savi's Dwarf Shrew, Savi's Pygmy Shrew
Taxonomy. Sorex etruscus Savi, 1822 ,
Pisa, Italy.
Analysis of mtDNA and nDNA showed that S. etruscus separated from the common trunk of white-toothed shrews ( Crocidura ) and Asian representatives of the genus Suncus earlier than they differentiated into two genera; i.e. S. etruscus could not be attributed to any of these genera and should be defined as a separate genus. Its distribution is one of the largest of all species of
shrews, but it is not continuous and represented by isolated areas. Distances between these areas can be up to several hundred kilometers. There are also many sporadic captures outside of the known areas of its distribution. During the last two decades, aboutten such captures were described. Because of presence of such an extended and fragmented distribution, a very large number of subspecies should be expected, but systematics of subspecies is underdeveloped. There are ¢.20 synonyms, but it is unclear how many of them are subspecies. Some forms that were described as subspecies are now considered species. Additional research is needed to clarify subspecific taxonomy. Seven subspecies recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution.
S.e.bactrianusStroganov,1958—Tajikistan.
S.e.madagascariensisCoquerel,1848—Madagascar.
S.e.micronyxBlyth,1855—Himalayas.
S.e.nanulaStroganov,1941—Uzbekistan.
S.e.nudipesBlyth,1855—NEIndia.
S. e. perrottetti Duvernoy, 1842 — S India. Also known from Tenerife I, many Mediterranean Is, North Africa, Arabia, Socotra I, and Central and South-east Asia, but subspecies involved not known. View Figure
Descriptive notes. Head-body 33-50 mm, tail 21-30 mm, ear 4-6-2 mm, hindfoot 7-7-5 mm; weight 1-2-2.7 g. The Etruscan Shrew is one of the smallest living mammals. Tail is usually longer than 60% of head-body length and weakly bicolored. Fur is short and soft, with no clear color border between belly and back. Back is smoky gray, with pale tone, and belly issilvery gray. Dental formula for all species of Suncusis 13/2,C1/0,P2/1,M 3/3 (x2) = 30. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 42 and FN = 74 (southern France) with 15 pairs of metacentric (submetacentric) autosomes and five pairs of acrocentric autosomes and FN = 78 (India) with 18 pairs of metacentric
(submetacentric) autosomes and two pairs of acrocentric autosomes. X-chromosome is submetacentric, and Y-chromosome is medium-sized acrocentric.
Habitat. [Lowlands and lower belts of mountain ranges. Due to its small size, the Etruscan Shrew is more often found in owls’ pellets than in pitfall traps. It probably prefers xeromorphic shrub thickets, vineyards, gardens, and tugai thickets (riparian forest or woodland associated with fluvial and floodplain areas in arid climates). It is much less common in dry steppes and semideserts and avoids wet habitats. The Etruscan Shrew sometimes occurs inside buildings. Data about occupation of gardens, xeromorphic forests, and vineyards are usually based on analysis of contents of owl pellets; use of open places comes from trapping data. Thus, it could be that Etruscan Shrews prefer open landscape, and xeromorphic forests and thickets are places of rest for birds of prey where they leave their pellets. Remains of Etruscan Shrew are most often found in pellets of common barn-owls (7yto alba) in Europe and northern long-eared owls (Asio otus) in Uzbekistan.
Food and Feeding. Stomach contents from three Etruscan Shrews contained small beetles and spiders. Under experimental conditions, they attacked all invertebrates except those that were large and used chemical protection (e.g. some species of hemipterans) and avoided plant material.
Breeding. Nests of Etruscan Shrews are situated in rodent holes, under heaps of brushwood, and in crevices between stones. Gestation lasts 27-28 days, and litters have 2-6 young. Newborns are naked and blind and average 0-2 g. Young are weaned at 19-21 days old. Females can have up to six litters during theirlife and breeding occurs only after their first winter. Very few individuals probably survive to breed after a second winter in the wild.
Activity patterns. The Etruscan Shrew is active mainly at night, with peak of mobility during dawn. Cold temperatures and food shortages can cause torpor.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Etruscan Shrew is solitary and aggressive outside the breeding season. Territoriality is established by vocalizations and fights.
Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Etruscan Shrew is very rare or infrequent throughout its distribution. It is listed in the regional Kazakhstan Red Book.
Bibliography. Alekseev & Sheftel (2017), Aswathanarayana et al. (1987), Dubey, Salamin et al. (2008), Fons (1974), Kahmann & Altner (1956), Krystufek & Vohralik (2001), Meylan (1968b), Molur et al. (2005), Omar etal. (2011), Spitzenberger (1990d), Zima et al. (1998).
No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.
