Gansu shrew

Sorex cansulus is a shrew of the genus Rotzahnspitzmäuse ( Sorex ). It occurs in central China mainly in Gansu Province at altitudes up to 3000 meters in front.

Features

With a head-body length of 6.2 to 6.4 centimeters Sorex cansulus one of the small to medium-sized shrew species. The cock reaches a length from 38 to 43 millimeters, and is thus shorter than the rest of the body, the rear foot is 12 mm long. The dorsal coloration is smoky gray to gray-brown, the sides of sand-colored - brown and the belly hazel. The tail has a brown top and a slightly lighter underside. The feet are white brown.

The skull has a total length of 18.5 to 19.2 millimeters and a length of the upper teeth of 8.1 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 of teeth are stained red as with most Rotzahnspitzmäusen. The first three -pointed teeth of the upper jaw decrease in size from the first to third. In its appearance it corresponds very strongly S. caecutiens and it differs from the latter mainly by the slightly larger teeth.

Dissemination

Sorex cansulus comes in central China mainly in Gansu Province at altitudes up to 3000 meters in front. The way was long known only from the type locality of the specimen and one other place in the immediate vicinity in the south of Gansu, Qinghai and before more individuals from the East Xizang were known. The height distribution is approximately 2600-3000 meters.

Way of life

Over the life of this kind are of the genus is little data as in many species. Sorex cansulus is known by a few individuals from the highlands of Gansu and neighboring provinces, about the lifestyle there are no data. Like all shrews feed on this species of invertebrates, especially insects. About the propagation are no observations.

System

Sorex cansulus is classified as a separate species within the genus of Rotzahnspitzmäuse ( Sorex ), which consists of about 80 species. The first scientific description comes from Oldfield Thomas in 1912, who described an individual from around Lintan in Gansu Province. The species was partially S. caecutiens assigned as a subspecies, but is now recognized as a species. Within the genus, the species of the subgenus Sorex is classified and assigned to the S. tundrensis group.

Within the species, no further addition to the nominate subspecies Sorex cansulus cansulus be distinguished.

Threat and protection

From the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources ( IUCN) Sorex cansulus is not classified but listed as " data deficient " due to lack of data.