Suncus varilla (Thomas, 1895)
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publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.6870843 |
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DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6870018 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/3D474A54-A06E-8703-FAFD-A05913DEF728 |
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treatment provided by |
Felipe |
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scientific name |
Suncus varilla |
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Lesser Dwarf Shrew
French: Pachyure des termitiéres / German: Kleine Wimperspitzmaus / Spanish: Musarana enana menor
Other common names: Termite Shrew
Taxonomy. Crocidura (Pachyura) varilla Thomas, 1895 ,
East London , Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.
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. S. varilla might represent multiple species or subspecies with additional research due to its
largely discontinuous distribution. Monotypic.
Distribution. SE DR Congo and W Tanzania S through E Zambia, W Malawi, W Mozambique, and E Zimbabwe to South Africa and Lesotho, as well as a single isolated record from C Nigeria; most records throughoutits distribution are scattered. View Figure
Descriptive notes. Head-body 44-68 mm, tail 25-45 mm, ear 7-9 mm, hindfoot 9-10 mm; weight 6-5 g. The Lesser Dwarf Shrew is very small. Dorsum is grayish chestnut (hairs pale slate-gray at bases, with silvery white subterminal bands and buffy brown tips), and venter is whitish gray (hairs pale slate-gray at bases with broad white to fawn tips). Unlike other African Suncus , dorsum and venter are clearly demarcated. Head is slender; muzzle is long, narrow, and pointed; eyes are small; and ears are conspicuous, rounded, and naked. Feet are white and short, with small claws. Tail is c.60% of head-body length, thin, covered with many long bristle hairs throughout, and bicolored, being brown above and paler below. There are four unicuspids, and fourth is very small; teeth are unpigmented white.
Habitat. Various grassland habitats, including suburban gardens, open savanna, and secondary margins of coastal forests. Lesser Dwarf Shrews are often associated with the termite mounds of snouted harvester termites (Trinervitermes trinervoides).
Food and Feeding. The Lesser Dwarf Shrew is insectivorous. Captive individuals ate grasshoppers, crickets, termites, and ox liver.
Breeding. The Lesser Dwarf Shrew is thought to be monogamous year-round (65% of adults occurring in pairs) but breeds seasonally relative to dry and wet seasons. Breeding generally occurs during late dry season (August-September) and wet season (October-March). Pregnant females are less common as young are born and cared for. Litters have 2-7 young (average 3-3), and females can have 2-3 litters in their lifetimes. Young stay with their mother for about nine months, which is extremely long for a shrew. Young generally leave their mothers in dry season (about May) and pair with a mate before breeding starts again in August. Caravanning has been recorded. Very few females produce a second litter in the same breeding season (c.18%), although there is postpartum estrus. About 42% of a population can consist ofjuveniles and subadults by the beginning of the wet season in October. Unlike many other shrew life cycles, Lesser Dwarf Shrews do experience major die-offs associated with seasonal breeding, and they are estimated to live 24-30 months.
Activity patterns. Lesser Dwarf Shrews seem to be active day and night. Their spherical nests are built in termite mounds, mostly in the center or oriented toward the north or west side of the mound, which is the warmer side, and usually underground. Termite mounds provide a more constant temperature, thus minimizing their thermoregulatory energy costs. Lesser Dwarf Shrews can enter torpor to reduce energy expenditures when food is scarce or other conditions are not favorable.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. Densities of Lesser Dwarf Shrews have been estimated at 0-25-8 ind/ha in central Free State Province, South Africa.
Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Lesser Dwarf Shrew is common throughout much ofits distribution and does not seem to face any major threats, although it might be affected by local habitat degradation in some regions.
Bibliography. Ansell (1978), Ansell & Dowsett (1988), Baxter & Dippenaar (2013k), Cassola (2017e), Dubey, Salamin, Ohdachi et al. (2007), Dubey, Salamin, Ruedi et al. (2008), Happold (1987), Lynch (1986, 1990a, 1991, 1994), Taylor (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.
