Suncus remyi, Brosset, Dubost & Heim de Balsac, 1965
publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.6870843 |
DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6870016 |
persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/3D474A54-A06E-8702-FAE0-AFE5150AF528 |
treatment provided by |
Felipe |
scientific name |
Suncus remyi |
status |
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Remy’s Pygmy Shrew
French: Pachyure de Rémy / German: Remy-Wimperspitzmaus / Spanish: Musarana enana de Remy
Other common names: Gabon Dwarf Shrew, Remy’s Dwarf Shrew, Remy’s Shrew
Taxonomy. Suncus remyi Brosset, Dubost & Heim de Balsac, 1965 View in CoL ,
Makokou , Gabon.
The seven species of endemically African Suncus seem to be more closely related to Sylvisorex than to other species of Suncus . They might be better placed in Sylvisorex but are retained in Suncus here until additional research is conducted. Suncus remyi seems to be closest to S. infinitesimus based on genetic data. Monotypic.
Distribution. NE Gabon, NW Republic of
the Congo, and SW Central African Republic in WC Africa; possibly also in SW Cameroon. View Figure
Descriptive notes. Head-body 42-49 mm, tail 17-21 mm, ear 5-6 mm, hindfoot 6-7 mm; weight 1-5-1-8 g. Remy’s Pygmy Shrew is one of the smallest living shrews and mammals (very similar in size to the Etruscan Shrew, S. etruscus ) based on weight and has fine, short, and dense fur. Dorsum of Remy’s Pygmy Shrew is rich reddish brown to rufous brown (hairs gray at bases with rest being reddish brown), and venter is slightly paler than dorsum. Head is long and narrow, with narrow and pointed muzzle; ears are rounded, naked, and conspicuous; and eyes are small. Feet are dark reddish brown, with small claws. Tail is ¢.41% of head-body length, thin, covered with short dark hairs on basal 50-80% of length, and uniformly dark brown. There are four unicuspids, and fourth is very small; teeth are unpigmented white.
Habitat. Primary moist rainforest and secondary marshy forest.
Food and Feeding. No information.
Breeding. A pregnant Remy’s Pygmy Shrew with one embryo was captured in August. Litters seem to have only one young.
Activity patterns. No information.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.
Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. Remy’s Pygmy Shrew has a relatively small distribution but is found in Minkébé National Park in Gabon. It does not seem to face any major threats other than localized habitat loss and degradation.
Bibliography. Brosset (1988), Brosset et al. (1965b), Cassola (2017d), Dubey, Salamin, Ohdachi et al. (2007), Dubey, Salamin, Ruedi et al. (2008), Goodman & Hutterer (2004), Goodman et al. (2001), Happold (20130), Quérouil et al. (2001), Ray & Hutterer (1996).
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.