Sorex salvini Merriam, 1897

Matson, John O. & Ordóñez-Garza, Nicté, 2017, The taxonomic status of Long-tailed shrews (Mammalia: genus Sorex) from Nuclear Central America, Zootaxa 4236 (3), pp. 461-483 : 476

Sorex salvini Merriam, 1897

Salvin’s Shrew

Sorex salvini Merriam, 1897:229 . Type locality: “Calel, Totonicapan [sic], Guatemala (alt., 10200 ft. = 3100 meters).”

Sorex godmani Merriam, 1897:229 . Type locality: “Volcano Santa Maria, Quezaltenango [sic], Guatemala (alt., 9000 ft. = 2740 meters).

Sorex saussurei godmani: Jackson, 1928:158

Sorex saussurei salvini: Jackson, 1928: 159

Sorex salvini: Woodman et al. 2012: 214

Holotype. Number 77035, U. S. Nat. Mus., Biological Survey Collection; adult, female, skin and skull; collected January 12, 1896, by E. W. Nelson and E. A. Goldman, original number 9 0 57.

Distribution. Highlands of northwestern, central, and eastern Guatemala.

Diagnosis. Sorex salvini is a member of the Sorex salvini species group. It is the largest of this species group in body measurements (except for S. sclateri ), but is intermediate in skull size ( Table 1 ). The color of the dorsum is more gray/brown than in S. cristobalensis , about the same color below; tail is gray/brown above, slightly paler below. Specimens from Yaiquich, Huehuetenango, are more chocolate brown, as is a topotype (USNM 77071). U3 is usually taller than U4, but the type specimen has U3 = U4.

Description. The body size of S. salvini averages larger than in S. cristobalensis , S. mccarthyi , or S. stizodon , but smaller than S. sclateri . The skull averages smaller in most measurements than in S. cristobalensis or S. sclateri , but larger than in S. mccarthyi or S. stizodon . Sorex salvini has a relatively short mandible, longer toothrow, and shorter rostrum compared to S. cristobalensis and S. mccarthy i.

Ecology. Sorex salvini is found in broad-leaved and coniferous cloud forests of Alta Verapaz, Huehuetenango, Quetzaltenango, and Totonicapán. Depending upon the mountain range, known small mammal associates include Cryptotis mam , C. lasertosus , C. oreoryctes , Habromys lophurus, Handleyomys saturatior, Heteromys desmarestianus, Marmosa mexicana, Microtus guatemalensis, Nyctomys sumichrasti, Oligoryzomys fulvescens, Peromyscus beatae , P. grandis , P. guatemalensis , P. mayensis , Reithrodontomys microdon , R. sumichrasti , R. tenuirostris, Scotinomys teguina, and Sorex veraepacis ( Carleton & Huckaby 1975; Woodman 2010, Woodman 2011b; Matson et al. 2014). Nothing is known about its reproductive habits.

Specimens examined (14). Guatemala, Alta Verapaz: Finca Chinaux, Campamento de los Helechos , 2040 m ( CM 120109 – 120110) ; Huehuetenango: San Mateo Ixtatán, Cerro Bobí ( USAC 26 ) ; San Mateo Ixtatán, Aldea Chiloala Zum ( USAC 27 ) ; Todos Santos ( USNM 77023 ) ; Yiaquich, 4 km NW Sta Eulalia, San Mateo Ixtatán , 2950 m ( UMMZ 117849–117850 ) ; Quiche: Chimel Grande , 12.6 km N, 9 km E Uspantan, 2490 m, 15.46208 N, 90.78811 W ( MVZ 226939 ) ; Quetzaltenango: Volcán Santa María 9000 ft. ( USNM 77044–77046 ) ; 4 km SE Zunil (Finca la Chingada) 2720 m ( USNM 569591 ) ; Totonicapán, Calel , 10,200 ft. ( USNM 77035, 77071 ) .