Soricidae Author Russell A. Mittermeier Author Don E. Wilson text 2018 2018-07-31 Lynx Edicions Barcelona Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 8 Insectivores, Sloths and Colugos 332 551 book chapter 102847 10.5281/zenodo.6870843 8a6c6dcf-1911-46fc-8ea0-48fe55c5ed11 978-84-16728-08-4 6870843 60. South-eastern Shrew Sorex longirostris French: Musaraigne a long nez / German: Langschnauzen-Spitzmaus / Spanish: Musarana suroriental Taxonomy. Sorex longirostris Bachman, 1837 , “swamps of Santee [River],” South Carolina . Restricted by H. H. T. Jackson in 1928 to “ Hume Plantation , swamps of the Santee River [ Cat Island , mouth of the Santee River], S[outh]. C[arolina].” Sorex longirostris is in the S. cinereus group and subgenus Otisorex. It seems to be closest to S. cinereus phylogenetically with one study finding that specimens of S. longirostris were nested within S. cinereus closest to specimens from eastern populations, although S. cinereus might represent multiple species. Subspecies fisheri might be a distinct species based on its largersize, although additional studies are needed to validate this. Three subspecies recognized. Subspecies and Distribution. S.llongurostrisBachman,1837—fromEOklahomaEtoNMarylandandfromNIIlinoisandNIndianaStoNFlorida(EUSA). . S.l.eionisJ.A.Davis,1957—N&CFlorida(SEUSA). S. l. fisheri Merriam, 1895 — Dismal Swamps of SE Virginia and NE North Carolina (EC USA). Descriptive notes. Head—body 44-57 mm, tail 39-44 mm, hindfoot 9-11 mm; weight 2-6 g. The South-eastern Shrew is small, with short rostrum compared with most other congeners, despite its binomial name longirostris meaning “long nosed.” Subspecies etonis and fisheri are ¢.20% larger than nominate longirostris . Dorsum is reddish brown, and venteris pale buffy gray. Tops of feet are pale. Tails are ¢.75-90% of head-body length, narrow, and bicolored, being dark above and lighter below. There are five unicuspids, gradually getting slightly smaller from first to fourth, with third usually a bit smaller than or equal to fourth and fifth minute compared with other four. Teeth are pigmented dark red, being lighter than in the Masked Shrew ( S. cinereus ), and skull is smaller and shorter with broader and shorter rostrum. Skull of fisher: is longer and relatively narrower than in nominate longirostris , and eionis is intermediate between the other two subspecies. Palate is broad and short. Habitat. Various moist habitats, including swamps, marshes, and bogs, and upland shrublands and woodlands, generally around rivers and other wet areas with dense ground cover, from sea level to elevations of c.762 m. Food and Feeding. South-eastern Shrews primarily eat small invertebrates, especially spiders, caterpillars, slugs, snails, crickets, beetles, and centipedes. They also eat small amounts of vegetation. They forage epigeally, reflected by their diets by large proportions of epigeal prey (spiders, ground-dwelling insects, etc.). Most important food items seem to be spiders, lepidopteran larvae, crickets, adult beetles, and harvestmen, which is very similar to the diets of the Masked Shrew with which South-eastern Shrews might compete. In captivity, they have been reported feeding on flesh of a cotton rat (Sigmodon sp.) and a House Mouse ( Mus musculus ); they might feed on carrion in the wild. Breeding. Reproduction of the South-eastern Shrew seems to occur from March until early October, with most pregnant females encountered in April. Young generally start appearing in May. Litters generally have 1-6 young (average c.4 young), but subspecies fisheri apparently haslitters with 6-10 young and can produce two or more litters during a breeding season. Some females have been reported to breed within the season they were born. They can live c.18-19 months, generally not surviving more than one winter, although individuals born very late in the breeding season might survive two winters. Activity patterns. South-eastern Shrews are active day and night but are most active at night. Nests are built under rotten logs and other large objects and are constructed with leaves and other vegetation. Movements, Home range and Social organization. The South-eastern Shrew is primarily solitary except when breeding and rearing young. Nevertheless, there are reports of several adults sharing a single nest outside the breeding season (November). Southeastern Shrews might show some level of sociality similar to that of the North American Least Shrew ( Cryptotis parvus), although additional studies are needed. Echolocation frequency of the South-eastern Shrew was recorded at 22 kHz. Densities are 30-44 ind/ha in Alabama. Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Southeastern Shrew is common and widespread and faces no major threats. Bibliography. Cassola (2016n), Erdle & Pagels (1995), French (1980a, 1980b, 1984), Hope et al. (2012), Jackson (1928), Jones et al. (1991), Junge & Hoffmann (1981), Lucas & Hoffman (2015), Pagels et al. (1982), Rose (1980), Taylor & Wilkinson (1988).