Cryptotis montivagus (Anthony, 1921)

Russell A. Mittermeier & Don E. Wilson, 2018, Soricidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 8 Insectivores, Sloths and Colugos, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 332-551 : 440-441

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.6870843

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6869864

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/3D474A54-A005-876A-FA13-A2D7115CFBF3

treatment provided by

Felipe

scientific name

Cryptotis montivagus
status

 

132. View On

Wandering Small-eared Shrew

Cryptotis montivagus

French: Musaraigne dAnthony / German: Wandernde Kleinohrspitzmaus / Spanish: Musarana de orejas pequenas errante

Other common names: Grizzled Ecuadorean Shrew, Wandering Shrew

Taxonomy. Blarina montivaga Anthony, 1921 , “ Bestion , Prov. del Azuay, Ecuador.”

Widely used specific name montivaga has been changed for gender agreement. Cryptotis montivagus is in the C. thomas: group based on morphology, but molecu- lar data found that C. montivagus, C. evaristor, and C. niausa were closely related to the C. mexicanus group. In another recent study by H. Zeballos and colleagues in 2018, however, the C. thomas: group was

found to be close to the C. nigrescens group, with C. montivagus sister to a clade containing C. gracilis , C. osgoodi, and C. equatoris . Monotypic.

Distribution. Andes of Chimborazo, Azuay, and Loja provinces in C & S Ecuador and Piura Department in NW Peru. View Figure

Descriptive notes. Head-body 65-86 mm, tail 22-38 mm, hindfoot 12-17 mm (Ecuador) or head-body 73-99,tail 25-35, hindfoot 14-16 (Peru); weight 9-16-5 g. The Wandering Small-eared Shrew is medium to large in size. Peruvian specimens are overall larger than Ecuadorean specimens. Dorsum is light grayish brown, and venter is slightly paler grayish brown. Forefeet are somewhat enlarged and robust, with long pointed claws. Tail is short (37% of head-body length), unicolored brownish, and covered with short hairs. Eyes are diminutive, and ears are small and hidden underfur.

Fourth unicuspid is in line with unicuspid tooth row and visible in lateral view of skull. Teeth are reddish, and there are four unicuspids.

Habitat. Wet montane forests dominated by Podocarpus (Podocarpaceae) and Ocotea (Lauraceae) or Polylepis (Rosaceae) at elevations of 2500-3800 m.

Food and Feeding. Stomach contents of some Wandering Small-eared Shrews contained beetles, spiders, caterpillars, and possibly arthropod larvae.

Breeding. A pregnant Wandering Small-eared Shrew with two embryos was recorded in August; lactating females have been recorded in July-August.

Activity patterns. There is no specific information for this species, but based on their diet, the Wandering Small-eared Shrew might be an epigeal forager, making it terrestrial.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List (as C. montivaga ). The Wandering Small-eared Shrew is described as uncommon but with a possible stable population trend, although additional studies are needed. It is found in a region with high rates of habitat loss due to deforestation but seems tolerant to some habitat degradation. Current status of critical habitat is presently uncertain.

Bibliography. Barnett (1992, 1999), Moreno (2017), Moreno & Albuja (2014), Naylor & Roach (2016b), Vivar et al. (1997), Woodman & Péfaur (2008), Zeballos et al. (2018).

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Mammalia

Order

Soricomorpha

Family

Soricidae

Genus

Cryptotis

Loc

Cryptotis montivagus

Russell A. Mittermeier & Don E. Wilson 2018
2018
Loc

Blarina montivaga

Anthony 1921
1921
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