Episoriculus fumidus (Thomas, 1913)

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 : 449-450

153.

Taiwanese Brown-toothed

Shrew Episoriculus fumidus

French: Musaraigne de Taiwan / German: Taiwan-Braunzahnspitzmaus / Spanish: Musarana de dientes marrones de Taiwan

Other common names: Taiwan Brown-toothed Shrew, Taiwanese Red-toothed Shrew

Taxonomy. Soriculus fumidus Thomas, 1913 ,

“ Mt. Arizan [= Alishan] , Central Formosa [= Taiwan, China]. Alt. 8000’ [= 2438 m].”

Chodsigoa sodalis was once listed as a synonym of E. fumidus , but it has been now confirmed as a different species. They are sympatric at some high altitude localities, although C. sodalis is extremely rare. Episoriculus fumidus is morphological similar to mainland congeneric species. Monotypic.

Distribution. Endemic to Taiwan I.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 53-71 mm, tail 37-52 mm, hindfoot 11-14-5 mm; weight 5-7-7-8 g. Condylo-incisive lengths are 17-8-19 mm, and tooth rows are 7-5-8 mm. The Taiwanese Brown-toothed Shrew is medium-sized, with tail shorter than head-body length. Dorsum is smoky blackish, and venter is lighter. Skull is similar to that of the other species of Episoriculus from mainland. Braincase is very dome-shaped and high. Ascending ramus of mandible is broad. Apex of I' is short, and talon (posterior cusp) is low. Upper unicuspids gradually reduce from first to third, and fourth is highly reduced. Talon of I' and first upper unicuspid are equally low. Dental formula for all species of Episoriculus is 1 3/2,GC1/0,P2/1,M 3/3 (x2) = 30. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 64 and FN = 116.

Habitat. Various montane habitats including broad-leaved, conifer, and bamboo forests; subalpine shrubs; and orchards at elevations of 1000-3600 m. Taiwanese Browntoothed Shrews favor microhabitats with dense ground cover and more fallen logs in conifer forest and avoid rocky forests with open ground surface.

Food and Feeding. The Taiwanese Brown-toothed Shrew is insectivorous, eating a wide variety of invertebrates (mainly arthropods) and oligochaetes. Major prey includes larval and adult insects.

Breeding. Breeding of the Taiwanese Brown-toothed Shrew occurs in the dry season (April-June). Litters have 2—4 young.

Activity patterns. The Taiwanese Brown-toothed Shrew is semi-arboreal and highly adapted to running and jumping. It has been captured by traps in trees 1-2 m high.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Taiwanese Brown-toothed Shrew is common in Taiwan and widely distributed through the Central Pangean Mountains. Its overall population is large and unlikely declining based on its high capture rate and occurrence in anthropogenic habitat.

Bibliography. He et al. (2010), Lin Liangkong & Motokawa (2014), Motokawa et al. (1997), Smith & Yan Xie (2008), Yu Hontsen (1993).

Figures

136. Elliot’s Short-tailed Shrew (Blarina hulophaga), 137. Northern Short-tailed Shrew (Blarina brevicaudus), 138. Southern Short-tailed Shrew (Blarina carolinensis), 139. Everglades Short-tailed Shrew (Blarina peninsulae), 140. Sherman’s Short-tailed Shrew (Blarina shermani), 141. Sichuan Short-tailed Shrew (Blarinella quadraticauda), 142. Burmese Short-tailed Shrew (Blarinella wardi), 143. Indochinese Short-tailed Shrew (Blarinella griselda), 144. Chinese Mole Shrew (Anourosorex squamaipes), 145. Taiwanese Mole Shrew (Anowrosorex yamashinai), 146. Assam Mole Shrew (Anowrosorex assamensis), 147. Giant Mole Shrew (Anourosorex schmid), 148. Desert Gray Shrew (Notiosorex crawfordi), 149. Cockrum’s Gray Shrew (Notiosorex cockrumi), 150. Large-eared Gray Shrew (Notiosorex evolis), 151. Villa’s Gray Shrew (Notiosorex villa), 152. Mexican Shrew (Megasorex gigas), 153. Taiwanese Brown-toothed (Shrew Epusoriculusfumidus), 154. Arboreal Brown-toothed Shrew (Episoriculus macrurus), 155. Bailey's Brown-toothed Shrew (Episoriculus baileyi), 156. Long-tailed Brown-toothed Shrew (Episoriculus leucops), 157. Hodgson’s Brown-toothed Shrew (Episoriculus caudatus), 158. Sichuan Brown-toothed Shrew (Episoriculus sacratus), 159. Hidden Brown-toothed Shrew (Episoriculus umbrinus), 160. Nepalese Brown-toothed Shrew (Episoriculus soluensis), 161. Himalayan Shrew (Soriculus nigrescens), 162. De Winton’s Brown-toothed Shrew (Chodsigoa hypsibia), 163. Pygmy Brown-toothed Shrew (Chodsigoa parva), 164. Smith’s Brown-toothed Shrew (Chodsigoa smithii), 165. Salenski’s Brown-toothed Shrew (Chodsigoa salenskii), 166. Dusky Brown-toothed Shrew (Chodsigoa furva), 167. Lesser Taiwanese Brown-toothed Shrew (Chodsigoa sodalis), 168. Van Sung’s Brown-toothed Shrew (Chodsigoa caovansunga), 169. Hoffmann’s Brown-toothed Shrew (Chodsigoa hoffmanni), 170. Lowe’s Brown-toothed Shrew (Chodsigoa parca), 171. Bornean Water Shrew (Chimarrogale phaeura), 172. Sumatran Water Shrew (Chimarrogale sumatrana), 173. Malayan Water Shrew (Chimarrogale hantu), 174. Chinese Water Shrew (Chimarrogale styani), 175. Himalayan Water Shrew (Chimarrogale himalayica), 176. Leander’s Water Shrew (Chimarrogale leander), 177. Japanese Water Shrew (Chimarrogale platycephala), 178. Elegant Water Shrew (Nectogale elegans), 179. Mediterranean Water Shrew (Neomys anomalus), 180. Transcaucasian Water (Shrew Neomysteres), 181. Eurasian Water Shrew (Neomys fodiens)

Distribution. Endemic to Taiwan I.