Uropsilus atronates, Allen, 1923

Russell A. Mittermeier & Don E. Wilson, 2018, Talpidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 8 Insectivores, Sloths and Colugos, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 52-619 : 598

7.

Black-backed Shrew Mole

Uropsilus atronates

French: Taupe a croupe noire / German: Schwarzriicken-Spitzmausmaulwurf / Spanish: Topo musarana de dorso negro

Taxonomy. Rhynchonax andersoni atronates G. M. Allen, 1923 ,

“Mu-cheng, Salween drainage, southwestern Yunnan, 7000 feet [= 2134 m] altitude,” China.

Uropsilus atronates was formerly included in U. gracilis , but recent molecular data supportits status as a distinct species. Monotypic.

Distribution. SW China (C Yunnan), restricted to region S of Dali and between Salween and Mekong rivers (Gengma County, Yongde Xueshan, and Wuliang Shan).

Descriptive notes. There are no specific measurements available. Dorsum is dark brown; venter is dark slate. Snout is long, with cartilaginous tubular prolongation beyond forepart of skull. Dental formulais 12/1, C1/1,P 4/4, M 3/3 (x2) = 38.

Habitat. Primary broad-leaved forests, mixed coniferous and broad-leaved forests, and primary coniferous forests.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. The Black-backed Shrew Mole is terrestrial.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Not assessed on The IUCN Red List, whereit is considered a synonym of U. gracilis , which is classified as Least Concern.

Bibliography. Allen (1938), Hoffmann (1984), Jiang Xuelong & Hoffmann (2013), Wan Tao etal. (2013).

Figures

1. Equivalent-teeth Shrew Mole (Uropsilus aequodonenia), 2. Anderson’s Shrew Mole (Uropsilus andersont), 3. Gracile Shrew Mole (Uropsilus gracilis), 4. Inquisitive Shrew Mole (Uropsilus investigator), 5. Chinese Shrew Mole (Uropsilus soricipes), 6. Snow Mountain Shrew Mole (Uropsilus nivatus), 7. Black-backed Shrew Mole (Uropsilus atronates), 8. Gansu Mole (Scapanulus oweni), 9. Hairy-tailed Mole (Parascalops breweri), 10. Coast Mole (Scapanus orarius), 11. Townsend’s Mole (Scapanus townsend), 12. Broad-footed Mole (Scapanus latimanus), 13. Mexican Mole (Scapanus anthonyi), 14. Eastern Mole (Scalopus aquaticus), 15. Long-tailed Mole (Scaptonyx fusicauda), 16. Japanese Shrew Mole (Urotrichus talpoides), 17. True’s Shrew Mole (Dymecodon pilirostris), 18. American Shrew Mole (Neurotrichus gibbsi), 19. Star-nosed Mole (Condylura cristata), 20. Russian Desman (Desmana moschata), 21. Pyrenean Desman (Galemys pyrenaicus)

Distribution. SW China (C Yunnan), restricted to region S of Dali and between Salween and Mekong rivers (Gengma County, Yongde Xueshan, and Wuliang Shan).