Suncus montanus Kelaart 1850

Suncus montanus Kelaart 1850, J. Ceylon Br. Asiat. Soc., 2: 211.

Type Locality: Sri Lanka, Nuwara Eliya, Pidurutalagala.

Vernacular Names: Asian Highland Shrew.

Subspecies::

Subspecies Suncus montanus subsp. montanus Kelaart 1850

Subspecies Suncus montanus subsp. niger Horsfield 1851

Distribution: Forested highlands in Sri Lanka and S India.

Conservation: IUCN – Vulnerable.

Discussion: Commonly included in murinus (Ellerman and Morrison-Scott, 1966:66), but represents a much smaller and always blackish species of primary forest habitats. Also genetically distinct from murinus (Ruedi et al., 1996) . Listed as a species by Corbet and Hill (1991:36). The Indian population is recognized as a valid subspecies (niger).