Crocidura caspica, Thomas, 1907
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publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.6870843 |
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DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6870269 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/3D474A54-A046-872A-FF24-A934133AF7A8 |
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Felipe |
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scientific name |
Crocidura caspica |
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Caspian White-toothed Shrew
French: Crocidure de la Caspienne / German: Kaspien-Weil 3zahnspitzmaus / Spanish: Musarana del Caspio
Other common names: Caspian Shrew
Taxonomy. Crocidura russula caspica Thomas, 1907 View in CoL ,
Iran, “ South coast of Caspian Sea [Iran]. Ad. - 25 m.”
Evidence retrieved from the karyotype composition, mtDNA and nDNA sequences classify C. caspica in the C. suaveolens group. It was previously thought to be a subspecies of C. gueldenstaedtii , but studies of mtDNA and nDNA structures showed that C. caspica is far closer to C. suaveolens . Monotypic.
Distribution. Lankaran Lowland and Talysh Mts (SE Azerbaijan and NW Iran). View Figure
Descriptive notes. Head-body 67-83 mm,tail 40-51 mm; weight 9-8-14 g (immatures 7-3-9-5 g; pregnant females may weigh up to 17-5 g). The Caspian White-toothed Shrew is large and heavily built. Tail is relatively long, usually exceeding 60% of head-body length. Pelage is virtually unicolor: the back varies from brown to dark brown, the belly is somewhat lighter. Tail is unicolor, the same color as the back. Chromosomal complement is 2n = 40, FN = 50, with four pairs of metaand submetacentric autosomes, 15 pairs of acrocentric autosomes. X-chromosomeis large metacentric, Y-small acrocentric.
Habitat. The Caspian White-toothed Shrew inhabits mountain slopes covered with humid forest, where oak ( Quercus , Fagaceae ), alder ( Alnus , Betulaceae ), iron tree ( Parrotia persica, Hamamelidaceae ), maple ( Acer , Sapindaceae ), and linden ( Tilia , Malvaceae ) prevail. It is also found in the valley adjacent to the mountains, including bushes at the edges of tea gardens.
Food and Feeding. No information.
Breeding. Reproduction may continue throughout the year, including winter.
Activity patterns. Caspian White-toothed Shrews are terrestrial.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.
Status and Conservation. Classified as Data Deficient on The IUCN Red List. The Caspian White-toothed Shrew is a common or occasionally abundant species in the Hirkan National Park (Azerbaijan) in the northern part of its range and, together with mice of the genus Apodemus , dominates in communities of small mammals.
Bibliography. Bannikova et al. (2006), Karami et al. (2008), Sokolov & Tembotov (1989), Zaitsev et al. (2014), Zima et al. (1998).
No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.
