The taxonomic status of Long-tailed shrews (Mammalia: genus Sorex) from Nuclear Central America
Author
Matson, John O.
Author
Ordóñez-Garza, Nicté
text
Zootaxa
2017
4236
3
461
483
journal article
36454
10.11646/zootaxa.4236.3.3
e605eaa7-c942-4658-a155-34c3e93f1e01
1175-5326
322258
3972C854-F755-4639-B942-30A3FA4151EC
Sorex salvini
Merriam, 1897
Salvin’s Shrew
Sorex salvini
Merriam, 1897
:229
. Type locality: “Calel, Totonicapan [sic], Guatemala (alt.,
10200 ft
. = 3100 meters).”
Sorex godmani
Merriam, 1897
:229
. Type locality: “Volcano Santa Maria, Quezaltenango [sic], Guatemala (alt.,
9000 ft
. = 2740 meters).
Sorex saussurei godmani
:
Jackson, 1928
:158
Sorex saussurei salvini
:
Jackson, 1928
: 159
Sorex salvini
:
Woodman
et al.
2012
: 214
Holotype
.
Number
77035,
U. S.
Nat. Mus.,
Biological Survey Collection
; adult, female, skin and skull; collected
January 12, 1896
, by
E. W. Nelson
and
E. A. Goldman
, original number 9 0 57.
Distribution.
Highlands of northwestern, central, and eastern
Guatemala
.
Diagnosis.
Sorex salvini
is a member of the
Sorex salvini
species group. It is the largest of this species group in body measurements (except for
S. sclateri
), but is intermediate in skull size (
Table 1
). The color of the dorsum is more gray/brown than in
S. cristobalensis
, about the same color below; tail is gray/brown above, slightly paler below. Specimens from Yaiquich,
Huehuetenango
, are more chocolate brown, as is a topotype (USNM 77071). U3 is usually taller than U4, but the
type
specimen has U3 = U4.
Description.
The body size of
S. salvini
averages larger than in
S. cristobalensis
,
S. mccarthyi
, or
S. stizodon
, but smaller than
S. sclateri
. The skull averages smaller in most measurements than in
S. cristobalensis
or
S. sclateri
, but larger than in
S. mccarthyi
or
S. stizodon
.
Sorex salvini
has a relatively short mandible, longer toothrow, and shorter rostrum compared to
S. cristobalensis
and
S. mccarthy
i.
Ecology.
Sorex salvini
is found in broad-leaved and coniferous cloud forests of
Alta Verapaz
,
Huehuetenango
,
Quetzaltenango
, and
Totonicapán
. Depending upon the mountain range, known small mammal associates include
Cryptotis mam
,
C. lasertosus
,
C. oreoryctes
,
Habromys lophurus, Handleyomys
saturatior,
Heteromys desmarestianus, Marmosa
mexicana,
Microtus guatemalensis, Nyctomys
sumichrasti, Oligoryzomys
fulvescens,
Peromyscus beatae
,
P. grandis
,
P. guatemalensis
,
P. mayensis
,
Reithrodontomys microdon
,
R. sumichrasti
,
R. tenuirostris, Scotinomys
teguina
, and
Sorex veraepacis
(
Carleton & Huckaby 1975
; Woodman 2010,
Woodman 2011b
; Matson
et al.
2014). Nothing is known about its reproductive habits.
Specimens
examined (14).
Guatemala
,
Alta Verapaz
:
Finca Chinaux
,
Campamento
de los
Helechos
,
2040 m
(
CM
120109
–
120110
)
;
Huehuetenango
:
San Mateo Ixtatán
,
Cerro Bobí
(
USAC
26
)
;
San Mateo Ixtatán
,
Aldea Chiloala Zum
(
USAC
27
)
;
Todos Santos
(
USNM
77023
)
;
Yiaquich
,
4 km
NW Sta Eulalia
,
San Mateo Ixtatán
,
2950 m
(
UMMZ
117849–117850
)
;
Quiche
:
Chimel Grande
,
12.6 km
N,
9 km
E Uspantan
,
2490 m
,
15.46208 N
,
90.78811 W
(
MVZ
226939
)
;
Quetzaltenango
:
Volcán Santa María
9000 ft
. (
USNM
77044–77046
)
;
4 km
SE
Zunil
(
Finca la Chingada
)
2720 m
(
USNM
569591
)
;
Totonicapán
,
Calel
,
10,200 ft
. (
USNM
77035, 77071
)
.