Soricidae Author Russell A. Mittermeier Author Don E. Wilson text 2018 2018-07-31 Lynx Edicions Barcelona Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 8 Insectivores, Sloths and Colugos 332 551 book chapter 102847 10.5281/zenodo.6870843 8a6c6dcf-1911-46fc-8ea0-48fe55c5ed11 978-84-16728-08-4 6870843 359. Bicolored African White-toothed Shrew Crocidura fuscomurina French: Crocidure de Heuglin / German: Zweifarb-WeiRzahnspitzmaus / Spanish: Musarana de Africa bicolor Other common names: Bicolored Musk Shrew , Bicolored Shrew , Tiny Musk Shrew Taxonomy. Sorex fusco murinus Heuglin, 1865 , Meshra-el-Req , Bahr-el-Ghazal , Sudan . Crocidura fuscomurina was previously known under the binomial C. bicolor, al- though it is now known as C. fuscomurina because it is the older name with priority. There is a strong possibility that it represents a cryptic species complex, although additional genetic and morphological research is needed. Monotypic. Distribution. Throughout sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal E to W Ethiopia and S to S Angola, N Namibia, and NE South Africa, avoiding densely forested regions in West and Central Africa. Descriptive notes. Head-body 48-75 mm, tail 27-5-48 mm, ear 6-5-9 mm, hindfoot 8-11 mm; weight 2-5 g. The Bicolored African White-toothed Shrew is very small to small. Western populations are paler and larger than eastern populations. Dorsal pelage 1s grayish brown, with slate gray-based and brownor buffy brown-tipped hairs, with fawn subterminal band. Ventral pelage is silvery gray, occasionally with yellow tinge, with slate gray-based and whiteor off white-tipped hairs; venter is sharply demarcated from dorsum. Feet are pale brown to off white. Tail is ¢.65% of head-body length, hairy, covered with longer bristle hairs, and sharply bicolored, being pale to dark brown above and paler below. There are three unicuspids. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 56 and FN = 86 in Burundi. Habitat. Woodland savannas and semiarid regions such as grasslands, woodlands, Kalahari sand, and riverine scrub habitats. Bicolored African White-toothed Shrews have been recorded in termite mounds, fallen logs, and marshy areas and are occasionally found around gardens, houses, and agricultural fields. They can tolerate fairly substantial habitat alteration and are considered somewhat of a habitat generalist, although they avoid densely forested regions. Food and Feeding. Bicolored African White-toothed Shrews mainly eat insects such as moths, grasshoppers, mantises, dragonflies, and crickets, based on captive individuals that preferred moths. In one study, they preferred more chilopods, spiders, beetles, and crickets/grasshoppers. Breeding. Reproductive activity of the Bicolored African White-toothed Shrew occurs in the wet season (November—April). Litters have 2-5 young (mean 3-4), and young weigh 0-25—1 g at birth. They are born naked but are fully furred after a week. Eyes open after c.12 days, and behavioral traits develop quickly. Observations have shown that they actively explore by 17 days old and eatsolid food at c¢.14-19 days old. Caravanning has been observed from six days after birth to just before weaning. In the Kruger National Park, individuals were observed “back riding” instead of caravanning. Activity patterns. Bicolored African White-toothed Shrews are nocturnal. Movements, Home range and Social organization. Bicolored African White-toothed Shrews are probably solitary, except for females with young. Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Bicolored African White-toothed Shrew is widespread, although rarely captured, and faces no major threats. Bibliography. Dickman (1995), Dippenaar & Baxter (2013b), Grubb et al. (1998), Happold (1987), Heim de Balsac & Meester (1977), Hurst et al. (2014), Hutterer (1983b, 2005b), Hutterer & Happold (1983), Oguge et al. (2004), Yalden et al. (1996).