Anourosorex schmidi, Peter, 1963

Russell A. Mittermeier & Don E. Wilson, 2018, Soricidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 8 Insectivores, Sloths and Colugos, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 332-551 : 448

147.

Giant Mole Shrew

Anourosorex schmidi

French: Musaraigne de Schmid / German: Riesenmaulwurfspitzmaus / Spanish: Musarana topo gigante

Taxonomy. Anourosorex schmidi Peter, 1963 ,

“ Bomdi La [= Bomdila ] ... a I'altitude de 2.700 m.”

Sovereignty over the borderland between China (South Tibet) and India (Arunachal Pradesh, formerly North East Frontier Agency) has been disputed since the early 1990s. The type locality “Bomdi La,” located in this area, did not reflect the ongoing controversy. Anourosorex schmidi was included in A. squamipes as a subspecies until re-

cently and is represented by three specimens. Its specific status is suspicious. It probably has a close relationship with A. assamensis if the two are not conspecific. Monotypic.

Distribution. Known only by the holotype, one specimen from Gomchu, Bhutan, and one specimen from Sikkim, NE India; distribution limits are unclear.

Descriptive notes. There are no specific measurements available. The Giant Mole Shrew was described as similar to the other species of Anourosorex and different from the other species by its longer skull. Condylo-incisive lengths are 29-1-30-5 mm. Long skull is the only criterion distinguishing it from the other species. The second largest species is the Assam Mole Shrew ( A. assamensis ), which has a condylo-incisive length no longer than 28 mm. Cusps of teeth of the Giant Mole Shrew are unpigmented. It has two upper unicuspids.

Habitat. Subtropical and tropical montane forests at elevations of 1500-3100 m on south-eastern slopes of the Himalayas.

Food and Feeding. The Giant Mole Shrew is insectivorous.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. The Giant Mole Shrew is semi-fossorial.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Data Deficient on The IUCN Red List. The Giant Mole Shrew is known from only a few specimens.

Bibliography. Hutterer (2005b), Motokawa & Lin Liangkong (2002), Motokawa et al. (2004).

Figures

136. Elliot’s Short-tailed Shrew (Blarina hulophaga), 137. Northern Short-tailed Shrew (Blarina brevicaudus), 138. Southern Short-tailed Shrew (Blarina carolinensis), 139. Everglades Short-tailed Shrew (Blarina peninsulae), 140. Sherman’s Short-tailed Shrew (Blarina shermani), 141. Sichuan Short-tailed Shrew (Blarinella quadraticauda), 142. Burmese Short-tailed Shrew (Blarinella wardi), 143. Indochinese Short-tailed Shrew (Blarinella griselda), 144. Chinese Mole Shrew (Anourosorex squamaipes), 145. Taiwanese Mole Shrew (Anowrosorex yamashinai), 146. Assam Mole Shrew (Anowrosorex assamensis), 147. Giant Mole Shrew (Anourosorex schmid), 148. Desert Gray Shrew (Notiosorex crawfordi), 149. Cockrum’s Gray Shrew (Notiosorex cockrumi), 150. Large-eared Gray Shrew (Notiosorex evolis), 151. Villa’s Gray Shrew (Notiosorex villa), 152. Mexican Shrew (Megasorex gigas), 153. Taiwanese Brown-toothed (Shrew Epusoriculusfumidus), 154. Arboreal Brown-toothed Shrew (Episoriculus macrurus), 155. Bailey's Brown-toothed Shrew (Episoriculus baileyi), 156. Long-tailed Brown-toothed Shrew (Episoriculus leucops), 157. Hodgson’s Brown-toothed Shrew (Episoriculus caudatus), 158. Sichuan Brown-toothed Shrew (Episoriculus sacratus), 159. Hidden Brown-toothed Shrew (Episoriculus umbrinus), 160. Nepalese Brown-toothed Shrew (Episoriculus soluensis), 161. Himalayan Shrew (Soriculus nigrescens), 162. De Winton’s Brown-toothed Shrew (Chodsigoa hypsibia), 163. Pygmy Brown-toothed Shrew (Chodsigoa parva), 164. Smith’s Brown-toothed Shrew (Chodsigoa smithii), 165. Salenski’s Brown-toothed Shrew (Chodsigoa salenskii), 166. Dusky Brown-toothed Shrew (Chodsigoa furva), 167. Lesser Taiwanese Brown-toothed Shrew (Chodsigoa sodalis), 168. Van Sung’s Brown-toothed Shrew (Chodsigoa caovansunga), 169. Hoffmann’s Brown-toothed Shrew (Chodsigoa hoffmanni), 170. Lowe’s Brown-toothed Shrew (Chodsigoa parca), 171. Bornean Water Shrew (Chimarrogale phaeura), 172. Sumatran Water Shrew (Chimarrogale sumatrana), 173. Malayan Water Shrew (Chimarrogale hantu), 174. Chinese Water Shrew (Chimarrogale styani), 175. Himalayan Water Shrew (Chimarrogale himalayica), 176. Leander’s Water Shrew (Chimarrogale leander), 177. Japanese Water Shrew (Chimarrogale platycephala), 178. Elegant Water Shrew (Nectogale elegans), 179. Mediterranean Water Shrew (Neomys anomalus), 180. Transcaucasian Water (Shrew Neomysteres), 181. Eurasian Water Shrew (Neomys fodiens)

Distribution. Known only by the holotype, one specimen from Gomchu, Bhutan, and one specimen from Sikkim, NE India; distribution limits are unclear.