Crocidura levicula, G. S. Miller & Hollister, 1921
|
publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.6870843 |
|
DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6870233 |
|
persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/3D474A54-A04F-8723-FFFF-A1B7178EF929 |
|
treatment provided by |
Felipe |
|
scientific name |
Crocidura levicula |
| status |
|
Sulawesi Tiny White-toothed Shrew
Crocidura levicula View in CoL
French: Crocidure légere / German: Kleine Sulawesi-Weil 3zahnspitzmaus / Spanish: Musarana de Célebes
Other common names: Celebes Shrew, Sulawesi Tiny Shrew
Taxonomy. Crocidura levicula G. S. Miller & Hollister, 1921 View in CoL ,
Pinedapa , Sulawesi, Indonesia.
Crocidura levicula is part of the strongly supported “Old Sulawesian” clade of shrews that evolved from an ancient (Miocene) colonization from the Sunda Shelf to the island of Sulawesi. Other shrews in this ancient radiation include the Sulawesian endemics C. lea , C. musseri , C. rhoditis , and C. elongata but not C. nigripes (evolved
from a more recent colonization event). Crocidura levicula has been found in sympatry with other insectivorous mammals, including three other species of shrews ( C. lea ,
C. nigripes , and C. elongata ) and several murid rodents ( Bunomys spp. ; Pacific Rat, Rattus exulans; etc.). Monotypic.
Distribution. Endemic to C & SE Sulawesi; known from various lowland and more mountainous regions, including Mt Rorekatimbo, Mt Gandangdewata, Mt Balease, and Mt Nokilalaki. Together with the Elongated White-toothed Shrew ( C. elongata ) this is the only wild shrew occurring on the SE peninsula, but lack of adequate sampling in most pristine areas of S Sulawesi hinders precise biogeographical inferences. View Figure
Descriptive notes. Head-body 57-64 mm, tail 33-41 mm, hindfoot 10-7-10-9 mm; weight 4-4-6 g. The Sulawesi Tiny White-toothed Shrew is tiny and the smallest species of shrew in Sulawesi. It is comparable in size with the unrelated Sunda White-toothed Shrew ( C. monticola ). Generally, pelage and bare parts (ears, face, feet and tail) are dark brown, but pelage color can vary with season (e.g. one shedding male was more grayish brown over hindparts). Tail is ¢.60% head-body length and hairy, with numerous bristles over most of its length. Apparently, hairiness oftail increases with elevation. Maxillary tooth row has second unicuspidate tooth comparable in size to third. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 34 and FN = 52, with submetacentric Xand Y-chromosomes. Chromosomal complement is unique for South-east Asian shrews.
Habitat. Lowland evergreen rainforests to moss forests covering mountaintops at elevations of 450-2300 m. The Sulawesi Tiny White-toothed Shrew occurs in primary and disturbed rainforests, among fallen leaves and under logs, or in habitats with denser vegetation cover. It can be relatively abundant in terrestrial habitats sampled with pitfall traps.
Food and Feeding. The Sulawesi Tiny White-toothed Shrew eats invertebrates, but no precise data are available.
Breeding. Two pregnant Sulawesi Tiny White-toothed Shrews caught in August carried one and two near-term embryos.
Activity patterns. The Sulawesi Tiny White-toothed Shrew apparently is predominantly diurnal, but it has also been trapped at night.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.
Status and Conservation. Classified as Least concern on The IUCN Red List. The Sulawesi Tiny White-toothed Shrew is widespread and relative abundant in primary and secondary forests, but rapid degradation of habitats by logging or conversion to agriculture might be a serious threat, at least in lowlands. It occurs in protected areas such as Lore Lindu National Park.
Bibliography. Chiozza (2016e), Dubey, Salamin et al. (2008), Esselstyn & Brown (2009), Esselstyn et al. (2009), Hutterer (2005b), Miller & Hollister (1921), Musser (1987), Ruedi (1995, 1996), Ruedi & Vogel (1995), Ruedi 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.
