Sorex mccarthyi, Matson, John O. & Ordóñez-Garza, Nicté, 2017

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 : 475-476

Sorex mccarthyi , new species

McCarthy’s Shrew

Sorex salvini: Woodman et al. 2012: 207 ; part.

Holotype. Number 119732 Carnegie Museum of Natural History, adult female, dried skin, skull, and partial skeleton (tissue sample SP: 12901), obtained 31 January 1995 by Timothy J. McCarthy (original field number TJM 9342) in cloud forest, approximately 11 km SW Gracias, 2560 m, Campamento El Naranjo , Parque Nacional Celaque, Lempira, Honduras, latitude 14 ° 33' N, longitude 88 ° 40' W.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality.

Etymology. Named in honor of Timothy J. McCarthy , collector of the only known specimen.

Diagnosis. Sorex mccarthyi is a member of the S. salvini species group and is distinguished from S. cristobalensis , S. salvini , and S. sclateri of this group by being smaller in most body and skull measurements (compare Table 1 with measurements of the holotype given below). It is larger than S. stizodon . Color is Russet Brown both dorsally and ventrally, tail slightly bicolor (Russet Brown above, slightly paler below).

Description. A small Sorex , measurements of the holotype: TOT 111, Tail 51.5,HF 13, EL 7.5, 4.22 g, CBL 17.05, GLS 17.68, LR 7.55, PL 7.15, LUT 2.45, LMT 4.25, CB 8.12, WM2 4.60, LIB, 3.90, DB 5.15, LM 7.15, HC 3.21. U3 is subequal in size to U4. The lower first incisor has a single pigmented denticle. The anteriomedial tine on the first upper incisor is above the pigmented region. S. mccarthyi has a short unicuspid toothrow relative to skull width and depth as compared to S. cristobalensis and S. salvini and S. sclateri . It is larger in all measurements than S. stizodon , but smaller than other species of the group.

Ecology. Sorex mccarthyi is known only from the cloud forest at an upper elevation (2560 m) on Cerro Celaque, Honduras. Mammalian associates include: Cryptotis goodwini , Heteromys desmarestianus , Peromyscus oaxacensis , P. beatae , P. mexicanus , Reithrodontomys mexicanus , and Scotinomys teguina (unpublished manuscript). Nothing is known about its reproduction.

Specimens examined (1). The holotype.