Siberian large-toothed shrew
Sorex daphaenodon is a shrew of the genus Rotzahnspitzmäuse ( Sorex ). It comes in parts of Kazakhstan, Russia before ( including the island of Sakhalin) and Mongolia and northern China.
Features
With a head-body length of 4.8 to 7.6 centimeters Sorex daphaenodon one of the medium to large shrew species. The tail reaches a length of 25-39 millimeters - which is significantly shorter than the rest of the body - the hind foot 10 to 13 millimeters. The back fur is dark brown and gray-brown, the belly slightly lighter; Back and abdomen are separated by a fine dark line. The soles of the feet are dark brown.
The skull has a total length of 17.5 to 18.5 mm and the length of the row of teeth in the upper jaw is 7.6 to 7.9 millimeters. Like most species of the genus has the kind in the maxilla per half an incisor ( incisor ) and then five unicuspid teeth, a Vorbackenzahn ( premolar ) and three molars ( Molar ). In the mandible, it has, however, a single canine ( canine ) behind the incisor. Overall, the animals thus have a dentition of 32 teeth. The roots are colored red as in most Rotzahnspitzmäusen, here is the red pigment of this type, however, much more pronounced and darker than other species, and Sorex reaches the base of the molars. The teeth are very massive and large in comparison to other shrews. From the sympatric living Lapland shrew ( Sorex caecutiens ) differs Sorex daphaenodon mainly by the slightly larger phenomenon that tail length and the teeth.
The genome of Sorex daphaenodon consists of a diploid set of chromosomes from 2n = 26-29 (FN = 46).
Dissemination
The distribution area of Sorex daphaenodon comprises a large area of northern Asia from the Urals to the Pacific Ocean. The species occurs in parts of Kazakhstan, Russia, including Sakhalin, Mongolia and the northern part of the People's Republic of China. In Mongolia, the species occurs in the basins along the rivers Orkhon and Selenga up in the north-eastern Khentii Mountains and along the Cherlen through the eastern Khentii Mountains and the Halh - steppe in the east of the country and the Mongol Daguur and the Ikh - Hyangan Mountains ago. In China, the occurrence restricted to the far north in the provinces of Heilongjiang, Jilin and Nei Mongol.
Way of life
Sorex daphaenodon lives in the greater part of their range in mixed forest areas as well as in pure coniferous forests, but also occurs in steppes, steppes tree and birch stands. In the Altai, the species is sympatric Sorex minutus, Sorex araneus, Sorex and Crocidura sibirica caecutiens.
Like all shrews feed on this species of invertebrates, especially earthworms and insects and their larvae, as well as spiders and centipedes. The breeding season begins in late spring, ready for mating males with enlarged testes appear from June to mid-September. Pregnant females can be found in the summer months from June to August and they throw four to nine, on average, seven pups. From July to leave this building the parents.
Among the predators of the species, especially birds of prey and smaller predators are like the fire weasel (Mustela sibirica ), the stoat (Mustela erminea ), or sable (Martes zibellina ). The life of the shrew is 14 to 16 months.
System
Sorex daphaenodon is a distinct species within the genus of Rotzahnspitzmäuse ( Sorex ) are included that consists of about 80 species. The first scientific description comes from Thomas from 1907, which described an individual from the Russian island of Sakhalin, together with the type of discovered there too Sorex Gracillimus. Within the genus, the species is classified in the subgenus Sorex araneus and S. Group attributed.
Within the species, two other subspecies, in addition to the nominate Sorex daphaenodon daphaenodon Sorex daphaenodon sanguinidens and Sorex daphaenodon Scaloni distinguished. The former subspecies S.D. orii today define Sorex caecutiens.
Threat and protection
Concrete inventory figures for the type are not known. In Mongolia, the population numbers and densities are lower than those of Sorex caecutiens. In Russia, it is generally not common, but in some areas it is the most common shrew.
Sorex daphaenodon is classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN ) due to the relatively large distribution area and the large populations as well as the non-existent threat inventory as not at risk ( least concern ). In some areas there is habitat destruction caused by forest and clearing activities by logging and forest fires.