Chinese shrew
Sorex sinalis is a shrew of the genus Rotzahnspitzmäuse ( Sorex ). It comes in the provinces of Gansu, Sichuan and Shaanxi in the People's Republic of China in
Features
With a head-body length of 6.4 to 8.5 centimeters Sorex sinalis one of the medium to large shrew species. The tail reaches a length of 49-68 millimeters - making it only slightly shorter than the rest of the body - the hind foot 13 to 17 millimeters. The dorsal and ventral fur is monochromatic gray-brown to Olive Drab. In comparison to the very similar S. isodon the muzzle is slightly longer and slightly narrower skull.
The skull has a total length of 20-22 mm and a width of 8.6 to 9.6 millimeters with a long rostrum ( snout ). 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 of teeth are stained red as with most Rotzahnspitzmäusen. On the first incisor, the species has a small central prongs. The single-pointed teeth of the upper jaw to take in size from first to fifth gradually decreases.
Dissemination
Sorex sinalis is endemic in the People's Republic of China and is found in the provinces of Gansu, Sichuan and Shaanxi. The height distribution is probably at 2700-3000 meters.
Way of life
Over the life of this kind are of the genus is little data as in many species. Sorex sinalis is probably a high mountain specialist and only occurs in the summit area of the mountain of their range. The habitats are rocky with moss cushions. Like all shrews feed on this species of invertebrates, especially insects. Within its range it lives partly sympatric with S. cylindricauda.
System
Sorex sinalis is classified as a separate species within the genus of Rotzahnspitzmäuse ( Sorex ), which consists of about 80 species. The first scientific description comes from Thomas from 1912, of an individual from the region Feng, Shaanxi Province, from an altitude of 3200 meters described. The species was long considered conspecific with S. isodon and as a subspecies of S. araneus, is now, however, as a separate article Within the genus, the species is classified in the subgenus Sorex.
Within the species, no further addition to the nominate subspecies Sorex sinalis sinalis be distinguished.
Threat and protection
From the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources ( IUCN) Sorex sinalis is not classified and listed as " data deficient " due to lack of data, to 1996, she was listed as endangered. There are only a few certificates from a relatively large area known and there is no inventory data. It seems as if the way be limited to the mountain peaks.