Crocidura longipes, Hutterer & Happold, 1983

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 : 538

410.

Savanna White-toothed Swamp Shrew

Crocidura longipes

French: Crocidure a pattes longues / German: Feuchtsavannen-Weif 3zahnspitzmaus / Spanish: Musarana de ciénaga y sabana

Other common names: Long-footed Shrew, Savanna Swamp Shrew

Taxonomy. Crocidura longipes Hutterer & Happold, 1983 ,

Dada , 11°34’N, 04°29’E, Nigeria.

There has been no new specimens of C. longipes collected since 1967-1968 (type series). Its relationship to other species of Crocidura is not known. Monotypic.

Distribution. Known only from two swamp areas near Kainji National Park (Dada and Iella) in W Nigeria. The Savanna Whitetoothed Swamp Shrew is probably not widely distributed.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 95-111 mm, tail 56-69 mm, ear 10-12 mm, hindfoot 18-19 mm; weight 15-24 g. Condylo-incisive lengths are 24-2-25-4 mm. The Savanna White-toothed Swamp Shrew is very large, with very long hindfeet (c.17% of headbody length) and sparsely haired tail. Dorsal and ventral pelage, forefeet, and hindfeet are uniformly dark brown. Tail is medium in length, brown, and sparsely haired (pilosity not known). It has longer hindfeet than other dark brown species of Crocidura from Nigeria, except those of the Nigerian White-toothed Shrew ( C. nigeriae ) and the Large-headed White-toothed Shrew ( C. grandiceps ), which can overlap. Skull of the Large-headed White-toothed Shrew is larger than in the other two shrews. Skulls of the Savanna White-toothed Swamp Shrew and the Nigerian White-toothed Shrew are of similar in size but not in proportions. Compared with the Nigerian White-toothed Shrew, skull of the Savanna White-toothed Swamp Shrew is more pointed, as expressed by narrowness ofits rostrum, with maxillary and interorbital constriction. Dentition is much weaker in the Savanna White-toothed Swamp Shrew, and tooth rows are shorter than in the Nigerian White-toothed Shrew. Skull is long and pointed, and interorbital and maxillary region are narrow. Rostrum is long and narrow. Dentition is weak, particularly upper molars. Mandible is lightly built, with long and thin angular process.

Habitat. Swampy areas with tall grasses (1-2 m high) and palm trees and other scattered trees (6-12 m high). The Savanna White-toothed Swamp Shrew can occur in other swamps along major river systems in Guinea Savanna.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. No information.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Savanna White-toothed Swamp Shrew is syntopic with the African Giant White-toothed Shrew ( C. olivieri ) in one swamp (Dada).

Status and Conservation. Classified as Data Deficient on The IUCN Red List. There is no recent information on extent of occurrence, status, taxonomy, population status, and ecological requirements of the Savanna White-toothed Swamp Shrew. It might be threatened byits restricted distribution and affected by habitat loss, rapid rate of urbanization, logging, and construction of dams. No known conservation measures are in place and additional studies are needed. Research priorities include surveys of swamp habitats and genetic studies comparing the Savanna White-toothed Swamp Shrew with Fox’s White-toothed Shrew ( C. foxi ) and Therese’s White-toothed Shrew ( C. theresae ) in West Africa.

Bibliography. Gerrie & Kennerley (2016s), Happold (1987 2013g), Hutterer (2005b), Hutterer & Happold (1983), Nicoll & Rathbun (1990).

Figures

386. Nimba Giant White-toothed Shrew (Crocidura maombasilvanus), 387. Doucet’s White-toothed Shrew (Crocidura douceti), 388. West African White-toothed Shrew (Crocidura muricauda), 389. Lamotte’s White-toothed Shrew (Crocidura lamottei), 390. Greater Red White-toothed (Shrew Crociduraflavescens), 391. Lesser Red White-toothed Shrew (Crocidura hirta), 392. Heather White-toothed Shrew (Crocidura erica), 393. Blackish White-toothed Shrew (Crocidura nigricans), 394. Goliath White-toothed Shrew (Crocidura goliath), 395. Somali White-toothed Shrew (Crocidura somalica), 396. African Giant White-toothed Shrew (Crocidura olivieri), 397. Savanna Path White-toothed Shrew (Crocidura viaria), 398. Savanna White-toothed Shrew (Crocidura fulvastra), 399. Ugandan White-toothed Shrew (Crocidura mutesae), 400. Smallfooted White-toothed Shrew (Crocidura parvipes), 401. Cinderella White-toothed Shrew (Crocidura cinderella), 402. Voi White-toothed Shrew (Crocidura vor), 403. Yankari White-toothed Shrew (Crocidura yankariensis), 404. Kahuzi White-toothed Swamp Shrew (Crocidura stenocephala), 405. Tarella White-toothed Shrew (Crocidura tarella), 406. Jackson's White-toothed Shrew (Crocidura jacksoni), 407. Kivu Long-haired White-toothed Shrew (Crocidura lanosa), 408. Dramatic White-toothed Shrew (Crocidura ludia), 409. Long-tailed White-toothed Shrew (Crocidura dolichura), 410. Savanna White-toothed Swamp Shrew (Crocidura longipes), 411. Cameroon White-toothed Shrew (Crocidura picea), 412. Manenguba White-toothed Shrew (Crocidura manengubae), 413. Fisentraut’s White-toothed Shrew (Crocidura eisentraut), 414. Upemba White-toothed Shrew (Crocidura zimmer), 415. Misotshi-Kabogo White-toothed Shrew (Crocidura lwiroensis), 416. African Dusky White-toothed Shrew (Crocidura caliginea), 417. Congo White-toothed Shrew (Crocidura congobelgica), 418. Latona’s White-toothed Shrew (Crocidura latona), 419. Polia’s White-toothed Shrew (Crocidura polia), 420. Ansell’s White-toothed Shrew (Crocidura ansellorum), 421. Pitman’s White-toothed Shrew (Crocidura pitmani), 422. Makwassie White-toothed Shrew (Crocidura maquassiensis), 423. Turbo White-toothed Shrew (Crocidura turba)

Distribution. Known only from two swamp areas near Kainji National Park (Dada and Iella) in W Nigeria. The Savanna Whitetoothed Swamp Shrew is probably not widely distributed.