Apennine shrew

Apennine shrew
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Eulipotyphla
Family: Soricidae
Genus: Sorex
Species:
S. samniticus
Binomial name
Sorex samniticus
Altobello, 1926
Apennine Shrew range

The Apennine shrew (Sorex samniticus) is a species of shrew in the family Soricidae.

Taxonomy and evolution

Sorex samniticus was described in 1926 by Altobello. It was previously considered a subspecies of S. araneus, but separated from it in 1979.[2][3] S. samniticus has a subspecies, S. samniticus garganicus, which is smaller than the standard nominate subspecies S. s. samniticus.[4]

A genetic analysis estimated that the Apenine shrew diverged from other shrews in the genus Sorex approximately 2.7 million years, further in time than the other species of the araneus group.[5][4]

Description

The Apennine shrew is very similar in appearance to the common shrew (Sorex araneus), but it can be distinguished by the upper incisors.[4]

It has 52 pairs of chromosomes, unlike other morphologically similar shrews such as the common shrew.[6]

Habitat, range, and conservation status

The Apennine shrew is endemic to Italy. It has been found from 300 metres (980 ft) to 1,160 metres (3,810 ft) above sea level. It prefers shrubland.[1] A 2007 study found that its population decreased as the amount of Quercus cerris (a species of oak) and Castanea sativa (sweet chestnu) trees increased.[7]

It is listed as a species of least concern by the IUCN due to its wide range and lack of known threats.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c Amori, G. (2016). "Sorex samniticus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T20411A2772233. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T20411A2772233.en. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  2. ^ Breda, Marzia (2002). "Morphological and biometrical study on cranial and dental remains of Sorex araneus, Sorex samniticus and Sorex arunchi (Mammalia, Insectivora, Soricidae)". Bollettino del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Verona, Botanica Zoologia.
  3. ^ Spagnesi, Mario; De Marinis, Anna Maria (eds.). Mammiferi d'Italia - Quad. Cons. Natura n.14 (PDF).
  4. ^ a b c Mitchell-Jones, A. J., ed. (1999). The atlas of European mammals. T. & A.D. Poyser natural history. London: T & AD Poyser. p. 56. ISBN 978-0-85661-130-8. OCLC 40683005.
  5. ^ Mackiewicz, Paweł; Moska, Magdalena; Wierzbicki, Heliodor; Gagat, Przemysław; Mackiewicz, Dorota (2017). "Evolutionary history and phylogeographic relationships of shrews from Sorex araneus group". PLOS ONE. 12 (6): e0179760. Bibcode:2017PLoSO..1279760M. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0179760. ISSN 1932-6203. PMC 5484494. PMID 28650986.
  6. ^ Dannelid, Erland (1991). "The genus Sorex (Mammalia, Soricidae)-distribution and evolutionary aspects of Eurasian species". Mammal REview. 21 (1): 1–20. Bibcode:1991MamRv..21....1D. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2907.1991.tb00284.x.
  7. ^ Mortelliti, Alessio; Amori, Giovanni; Sammuri, Giampiero; Boitani, Luigi (2007-03-01). "Factors affecting the distribution ofSorex samniticus, an endemic Italian shrew, in an heterogeneous landscape". Acta Theriologica. 52 (1): 75–84. doi:10.1007/BF03194202. ISSN 2190-3743.


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