Crocidura orientalis, Jentink, 1890
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publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.6870843 |
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DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6870092 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/3D474A54-A07A-8716-FFF7-A11C1BBFF70E |
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treatment provided by |
Felipe |
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scientific name |
Crocidura orientalis |
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Oriental White-toothed Shrew
Crocidura orientalis View in CoL
French: Crocidure de Java / German: Orientalische Weil 3zahnspitzmaus / Spanish: Musarana oriental
Other common names: Oriental Shrew
Taxonomy. Crocidura orientalis Jentink in Weber, 1890 View in CoL ,
Cibodas, West Java , Indonesia
Formerly included in C. fuliginosa of continental South-east Asia, but differs chromosomally, genetically and morphooerwo Morphologically distinct from its sister species C. brunnea , but instances of mitochondrial introgression reported in central Java (Mount Slamet) suggest interspecific barriers to gene flow between
these two well-differentiated species may be locally porous. C. orientalis and C. brunnea appear in the same clade, together with the large-bodied Sumatran C. lepidura . Based on a very short fragment of mtDNA, C. trichura is apparently also closely related to C. orientalis . In addition to size, three fixed diagnostic allozyme loci and a genetic distance of 9% measured at the cytochrome-b gene suggest that the two subspecies in the Oriental White-toothed Shrew might have reached the species level; as specimens
from the type locality, and those from potential transition areas in central Java, have not yet been evaluated genetically, these taxa remain treated as races meantime. Two subspecies recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution.
C. o. orientalisJentink, 1890 — W & C Java (from Mt Salak and Mt Gede E to Mt Slamet). C. o. lawuana Sody, 1936 — E Java (from Mt Lawu E to Mt Bromo and Mt Semeru). Either form might occur in intervening mountains of C Java. View Figure
Descriptive notes. Head-body 73-100 mm, tail 62-86 mm, ear 7 mm, hindfoot 14-17-1 mm; weight 9-5-18-2 g. The Oriental White-toothed Shrew is a medium-sized dark brown shrew with long (over 4 mm mid-dorsum), dense fur. Color slightly lighter ventrally; some individuals have a noticeably browner throat. Ears and feet light brown. Tail cylindrical, brown, comparable in length to head-body, essentially naked, except for very short hairs that leave the scales visible. In nominate, the tail is devoid of the bristle hairs typical of other Javan shrews, including the smaller race lawuana . Typical white ring of bare skin around base oftail is present in most Oriental Whitetoothed Shrews. The smaller Javan Long-tailed White-toothed Shrew (C. abscondita), endemic to West Java, has an even longer tail (significantly longer than its head—body length), holding very sparse bristle hairs near its base, and has grayer fur; the similarsized Thick-tailed White-toothed Shrew ( C. brunnea ) is browner, with a shorter, more conical tail bearing numerous bristles. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 38 and FN = 56, with subtelocentric X and submetacentric/metacentric Y chromosomes. Chromosomal complement very similar to those of most other Crocidura from the Sunda Shelf, including the Thick-tailed White-toothed Shrew.
Habitat. Primary and secondary montane forests in an altitudinal range of 1500-2700 m. At mid-elevations (¢c.1600 m on Mount Gede), the Oriental White-toothed Shrew occurs in sympatry with two small species (Javan Ghost White-toothed Shrew, C. umbra; and Sunda White-toothed Shrew, C. monticola ), one large species (Thicktailed White-toothed Shrew, C. brunnea ), and one scansorial species (Javan Long-tailed White-toothed Shrew). May also be found together in the same habitat with the Thicktailed White-toothed Shrew at Mount Ciremai and Mount Slamet, although these two are usually segregated by altitude.
Food and Feeding. The Oriental White-toothed Shrew feeds on invertebrates but no precise data are available.
Breeding. In both West and East Java, several pregnant (each carrying a single embryo) and lactating females were caught in September, indicating breeding during this period, but no other specific data are available.
Activity patterns. Oriental White-toothed Shrews are terrestrial. Captures around first light and at night, suggest crepuscular and nocturnal activity.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Oriental White-toothed Shrew is a common shrew found in montane forests. Relatively high numbers were trapped in the forest floor in western Java, and in grassy areas surrounding gardens in the Bromo—-Semeru region of EastJava, suggesting small or overlapping territories, but no specific data available.
Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List in view of its widespread occurrence in montane forests and secondary habitats. The Oriental White-toothed Shrew is found in high densities in gardens, indicating that it can be tolerant of human disturbance. Present in many protected areas. The eastern form lawuana is geographically much more restricted to a few areas in EastJava and may yet prove to be a distinct species.
Bibliography. Demos et al. (2016), Dubey, Salamin et al. (2008), Eldridge et al. (2014), Esselstyn et al. (2013), Jenkins (1982), Jentink (1890), Hutterer (2005b), Ruedi (1995, 1996), Ruedi & Vogel (1995), Sody (1930).
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.
