Crocidura caliginea, Hollister, 1916
|
publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.6870843 |
|
DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6870500 |
|
persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/3D474A54-A0A7-87CB-FF28-A9391B0EFDF3 |
|
treatment provided by |
Felipe |
|
scientific name |
Crocidura caliginea |
| status |
|
African Dusky White-toothed Shrew
Crocidura caliginea View in CoL
French: Crocidure de Medje / German: Dunkle Kongo-Weil 3zahnspitzmaus / Spanish: Musarana de Africa oscura
Other common names: African Dusky Shrew, African Foggy Shrew
Taxonomy. Crocidura caliginea Hollister, 1916 View in CoL ,
Medje , DR Congo.
Crocidura caliginea shares several unusual characteristics with Paracrocidura schout- edeni, another endemic of the Central African rainforest. Distribution of either species is allopatric, and it is probable that both occupy Py similar ecological8 niches. Crocidura caliginea has not been included in any phylogenetic studies. Monotypic.
Distribution. NE DR Congo; until 1990, recorded only from type locality and Masako Forest, near Kisangani. Since then, it has been recorded in various forests in vicinity of Kisangani. Also, found 2 km W of Epulu Forest and on Kungulu I. Its distribution still appears to be very limited. View Figure
Descriptive notes. Head-body 69-6 + 4-4 mm, tail 48-7 + 3-7 mm, ear 7-1 + 0-3 mm, hindfoot 11-7 + 0-5 mm; weight 8-3 + 1-3 g (all measurements mean + SD). Mean condylo-incisive length is 21-8 + 0-5 mm. An additional cusp on I* in significantly more males than females suggests partial sexual dimorphism, which would be relatively unusual in the family Soricidae . The African Dusky White-toothed Shrew is a small to medium-sized, dark brown, and small-footed, with skull characteristics resembling the Yankari White-toothed Shrew (C. yankariensis ) and sharing unusual characteristics with the Lesser Large-headed Shrew ( Paracrocidura schoutedeni ). Dorsal and ventral pelage (body hairs 3-5 mm on back) is dark brown. Upperparts are slightly brighter or brownish, less smoky, than venter. There is no distinct demarcation between dorsum and venter. Snout, ears, hands, and feet are lighter in color, covered by very short white hairs, giving them a “naked” appearance, which sharply contrasts against uniformly dark fur. Ears are small relative to head, pale covering only one-half the height of head. Hindfeet are relatively short and have bare soles, similar to species of Paracrocidura . Brown tail of the African Dusky White-toothed Shrew is ¢.70% of head-body length, and it appears almost naked exceptfor a few longer bristles at its base and some more scattered over its entire length; however, these bristles are extremely short and difficult to detect (pilosity 20-30%). The African Dusky White-toothed Shrew and species of Paracrocidura are very similar: uniformly dark color, contrasting against small pale ears, fleshy snout, short limbs, and tail; however, there are differences in ear conch size, bristle hair configuration of tail, and rostral length (longer in species of Paracrocidura ). Skull deviates from the general type of Crocidura by its rectangular braincase, broad maxillary region, and narrow interorbital region. In this respect, it resembles some savanna species such the Yankari White-toothed Shrew. Teeth are comparatively large and well developed. I' is long and hooked. I* (= first unicuspid) is most unusual by being twice as large as second and third upper unicuspids and by having (mostly in males) a secondary cusp. Upper molars are large. Molar teeth of mandible are very well developed.
Habitat. Primary forest on lowland plateau at an elevation of ¢.750 m. In Masako Forest, most African Dusky White-toothed Shrews have been found in secondary forest (40year-old regrowth), surrounded by primary forest (mono-dominant forest of Gilbertiodendron , Fabaceae ). Some have been found in secondary forests, fallow land, and moist areas along creeks. In recent surveys near Kisangani, it also has been found in primary forests.
Food and Feeding. The African Dusky White-toothed Shrew eats a wide range of invertebrates, primarily arthropods. Stomach analyses from rainforest in Masako Forest showed that species of Formicidae were major prey items (in 100% of stomachs), followed by Isoptera (60%), Araneae (60%), adult Coleoptera (55%), and Diplopoda (45%). Body lengths of invertebrate prey were 3-20 mm, with 85% less than 20 mm. Large heavy teeth of the African Dusky White-toothed Shrew are particularly well adapted for crushing tough, chitinous exoskeletons of arthropods.
Breeding. No information.
Activity patterns. External characteristics of the African Dusky White-toothed Shrew suggestit is terrestrial, with some modifications toward a semi-fossorial life.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. The African Dusky White-toothed Shrew is considered rare but might be locally abundant. Numerically, it was the most common species during three years of trapping in Masako Forest where it comprised 47% of shrews in secondary forest (n = 36; eight species) and 33% of shrew captures in all habitats (n = 72, nine species).
Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The African Dusky White-toothed Shrew has a wider distribution than was previously known and presumably a large overall population. Nevertheless, it occurs in an area affected by some habitat loss, but it is currently unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify
for listing in a threatened category. At present, it does not face any major threats. The African Dusky White-toothed Shrew occurs in Ituri Forest. Additional studies are needed clarify its current distribution.
Bibliography. Churchfield et al. (2013a), Dudu et al. (2005), Gambalemoke, Mukinzi, Amundala, Gembu et al. (2008), Gambalemoke, Mukinzi, Amundala, Katuala et al. (2008), Hutterer (1986d, 2005b, 2016h), Hutterer & Dudu (1990), Hutterer & Jenkins (1983), Mukinzi et al. (2005), Nicoll & Rathbun (1990).
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.
