Crocidura mariquensis (A. Smith, 1844)
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publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.6870843 |
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DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6870401 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/3D474A54-A057-87C4-FA1B-ADED138DFCD9 |
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treatment provided by |
Felipe |
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scientific name |
Crocidura mariquensis |
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Swamp White-toothed Shrew
Crocidura mariquensis View in CoL
French: Crocidure des marais / German: Sumpf-WeiRzahnspitzmaus / Spanish: Musarana de ciénaga
Other common names: Swamp Musk Shrew
Taxonomy. Sorex mariquensis A. Smith, 1844 ,
“ A wooded ravine near the Tropic of Capricorn .” Clarified by N. J. Dippenaar in 1979 as Marico River near its junction with Limpopo River, North West Province, South Africa, based on lectotype selection .
Crocidura mariquensis seems to be basal to a large clade including C. cyanea , C. silacea , C. hildegardeae , C. batesi , C. foxi , C. buettikoferi , C. theresae , C. grandiceps , and C. wimmeri . This large clade is sister to a clade
including C. crenata , C. fuscomurina , C. crossei , C. jouvenetae , and C. lusitania . Three subspecies recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution.
C.m.mariquensisA.Smith,1844—ESouthAfrica,Swaziland,andSMozambique.
C.m.neavetWroughton,1907—WCAngola,SDRCongo,andZambia.
C. m. shortridgei St. Leger, 1932 — NE Namibia, N Botswana, and extreme NW Zimbabwe. View Figure
Descriptive notes. Head-body 63-105 mm (males) and 62-90 mm (females), tail 45-72 mm (males) and 45-71 mm (females), ear 7-11 mm (males) and 6-10 mm (females), hindfoot 15-20 mm (males) and 14-19 mm (females); weight 9-8-16-5 g (males) and 6-1-13-9 g (females). The Swamp White-toothed Shrew is medium-sized to relatively large, with long pelage. Males, on average, are larger than females. Dorsal pelage is blackish brown, grizzled lightly with reddish fawn (hairs are slate-gray-based with reddish fawn to reddish brown subterminal bands and blackish brown tips). Venter is paler dark brown, grizzled with fawn (hairs are slate-gray basally with fawn to pale brown tips). Feet are yellowish brown, brown, or blackish brown. Tail is ¢.70% of head-body length, relatively hairy, and dark. Females have six inguinal nipples. When walking, tail is uniquely curved slightly upward. Nominate mariquensis is dark and larger than neavei, which is also dark, and shortridgei is paler than the other two subspecies. There are three unicuspids.
Habitat. Highly associated with swampy riverine regions and semi-aquatic vegetation and reed beds, generally only close to open water such as marshes.
Food and Feeding. Captive Swamp White-toothed Shrews eat snails and termites.
Breeding. Reproductive activity of the Swamp White-toothed Shrew has been recorded in the wet season (September—February) in South Africa (subspecies mariquensis ), with litters of 2-7 young (average 4-1). In Botswana (subspecies shortridgei), they were also recorded in wetter months (August—April), with embryo counts of 2-5/female (average 3-3). Three pregnant females were recorded in August-October, February, and April in Zambia (subspecies neaver), with embryo counts of 2-5/female (average 3-8).
Activity patterns. Swamp White-toothed Shrews are primarily nocturnal, but they have been recorded during the day. Nests have been found in clumps of tussock grass and
debris 30 cm above the ground. Nests have not been observed in captivity, although they seem to creep into nesting materials in captivity and creating a hollow in the material.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Swamp White-toothed Shrew is not very aggressive toward conspecifics, but aggressive encounters do occur. Vocalizations accompanying these encounters include short, sharp squeaks and short “chirrs.” Although scent marking has not been observed, their bodies and fecal piles have very strong scents.
Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Swamp White-toothed Shrew has a wide distribution, and there are no major threats affecting populations.
Bibliography. Baxter & Dippenaar (2013d), Baxter & Meester (1980), Baxter et al. (1979a), Cassola (2016an), Dippenaar (1977, 1978, 1979), Goulden & Meester (1978), Meester (1963), Rathbun (2005), Taylor (1998), Taylor et al. (1994), Vogelet al. (2013).
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.
