Surdisorex polulus, Hollister, 1916

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 : 545

425.

Mount Kenya Mole Shrew

Surdisorex polulus

French: Musaraigne du Kenya / German: Mount-Kenya-Wihlspitzmaus / Spanish: Musarana topo de Monte Kenya

Other common names: Mount Kenya Shrew

Taxonomy. Surdisorex polulus Hollister, 1916 ,

“ westside of Mount Kenia [sic], British East Africa [= Kenya], at 10,700 feet [= 3261 m] altitude.”

The phylogenetic placement of Surdisorex is uncertain, and genetic data have not yet been implemented. Monotypic.

Distribution. Mt Kenya, C Kenya.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 85-100 mm, tail 24-32 mm, hindfoot 14-— 17 mm; weight 16-21 g. The Mount Kenya Mole Shrew is a large shrew with thick, dense pelage of a velvety texture. Head is broad with a pointed muzzle. Dorsum is dark chocolate brown, ventrum is paler and sometimes with a russet tinge. Eyes are very small and covered by the fur, being nearly vestigial; ears not present or only a small raised area of skin. Forelimbs are short but broad with long claws, and hindfeet are short with pale claws. Tail is short (c.30% of head-body length), black, and covered in dense short black bristles. The speciesis smaller than the Aberdare Mole Shrew (S. norae ). Skull is elongate with a wide braincase. There are three unicuspids.

Habitat. Found in Podocarpus (Podocarpaceae) bamboo forests, and swamps near forests with extensive ground cover. Recorded at elevations of ¢.3261 m.

Food and Feeding. The Mount Kenya Mole Shrew feeds largely on earthworms by holding them with its forefeet and eating the anterior end down to the clitellum of the worm, to avoid eating the intestines, which are full of soil and detritus.

Breeding. Pregnant females with 1-2 embryos have been collected in late August and October.

Activity patterns. No information.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Data Deficient on The IUCN Red List. The Mount Kenya Mole Shrew has a very small distribution and a fragmented population. It is known from few museum specimens. Research is needed to determine the major threats that may affect the species.

Bibliography. Duncan & Wrangham (1971), Happold (2013n), Kennerley (2016ac), Kerbis Peterhans et al. (2009), Willows-Munro & Matthee (2009).

Figures

424. Aberdare Mole Shrew (Surdisorex norae), 425. Mount Kenya Mole Shrew (Surdisorex polulus), 426. Schlitter’s Mole Shrew (Surdisorex schlitteri), 427. Phillips's Congo Shrew (Congosorex phillipsorum), 428. Greater Congo Shrew (Congosorex polli), 429. Lesser Congo Shrew (Congosorex verheyeni), 430. Meester’s Mouse Shrew (Myosorex meester), 431. Dark-footed Mouse Shrew (Myosorex cafer), 432. Sclater’s Mouse Shrew (Myosorex sclateri), 433. Thin Mouse Shrew (Mpyosorex tenuis), 434. South African Mouse Shrew (Myosorex varius), 435. Long-tailed Mouse Shrew (Myosorex longicaudatus), 436. Kilimanjaro Mouse Shrew (Myosorex zinki), 437. Geata Mouse Shrew (Myosorex geata), 438. Kihaule’s Mouse Shrew (Myosorex kihaulei), 439. Nyika Mouse Shrew (Myosorex gnoskei), 440. Schaller’s Mouse Shrew (Myosorex schalleri), 441. Kabogo Mouse Shrew (Myosorex kabogoensis), 442. Babault’ ' s Mouse Shrew (Mpyosorex babaultu), 443. Montane Mouse Shrew (Myosorex blarina), 444. Bururt Mouse Shrew (Myosorex bururiensis), 445. Kahuzi Mouse Shrew (Myosorex jejer), 446. Eisentraut’s Mouse Shrew (Myosorex eisentrauti), 447. Rumpi Mouse Shrew (Myosorex rumpii), 448. Oku Mouse Shrew (Myosorex okuensis)

Distribution. Mt Kenya, C Kenya.