Chinese mole shrew
Anourosorex squamipes is a shrew of the genus stubby tail shrews ( Anourosorex ). It is common in South - East Asia to Central China to northern Vietnam, Myanmar and Thailand.
Features
With a head-body length of 7.4 to 11 centimeters, the type is one of the medium-sized shrew species. The tail reaches a length of 8 to 19 mm and the hind foot 11 to 16 millimeters; as in all species of the tail is thus very short and thin. The back and belly coloration is uniformly dark gray to brown, the belly is only slightly brighter, and the fur is very dense and loose. The front feet have significantly enlarged claws.
The skull has a maximum length of 23 to 26 millimeters. Like all species of the genus has the kind in the maxilla per half an incisor ( incisor ), two canine teeth ( canines ), a Vorbackenzahn ( premolar ) and three molars ( Molar ). In the mandible, the number of canines is reduced ( in each half of a instead of two). Overall, the animals thus have 26 teeth. The third molars are reduced in both the upper and lower jaw.
Dissemination
Anourosorex squamipes is spread over parts of South and Southeast Asia from central China over East India and Bhutan, the north of Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos and Thailand. In India, only evidence for an occurrence in the state of Mizoram are in China lives the kind in the provinces of Gansu, Shaanxi and Hubei to Yunnan.
Way of life
The preferred habitat of Anourosorex squamipes located at medium altitudes 1200-3000 meters, where they settled mostly mountain forests of various characteristics. The type as other species of the genus adapted to a subterranean life, however their food, they will also be partly in the ground surface. This is like other shrews from insects, worms and other invertebrates. About the propagation data are very rare.
System
Anourosorex squamipes is classified as a separate species within the genus of the stubby tail shrews ( Anourosorex ), which consists of four types. The first scientific description comes from Henri Milne -Edwards from the year 1872. Originally, all species of the genus have been merged into this kind and considered the genus accordingly as monotypic today be considered alongside Anourosorex squamipes also Anourosorex assamensis, Anourosorex schmidi and Anourosorex yamashinai as a valid species.
Within the species, no subspecies are distinguished addition to the nominate form.
Threat and protection
The species is classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN ) due to the relatively large area of distribution in Asia and the population size is assumed to be not at risk ( " least concern "). Threats to the species are not known and a significant decline in the populations will not be accepted.