Suncus varilla Thomas 1895

Suncus varilla Thomas 1895, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 6, 16: 54.

Type Locality: South Africa, Eastern Cape Prov., East London.

Vernacular Names: Lesser Dwarf Shrew.

Synonyms: Suncus meesteri Butler and Greenwood 1979; Suncus minor G. M. Allen and Loveridge 1933; Suncus natalensis Roberts 1946; Suncus orangiae (Roberts 1924); Suncus tulbaghensis Roberts 1946; Suncus warreni Roberts 1929 .

Distribution: Savannahs from the Cape (South Africa) to Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania, E Dem. Rep. Congo, Malawi; an isolated record from Nigeria.

Conservation: IUCN – Lower Risk (lc).

Discussion: Closely associated with termite mounds (Lynch, 1986). Gureev (1979:383) listed orangiae and warreni as distinct species without comment. Common in the Pleistocene of Kenya and South Africa (Butler and Greenwood, 1979). For synonyms see Heim de Balsac and Meester (1977:6).