Lesser striped shrew
Sorex bedfordiae is a shrew of the genus Rotzahnspitzmäuse ( Sorex ). It occurs in South Asia before in China, Nepal and Myanmar.
Features
With a head -body length from 5 to 7.2 centimeters Sorex counts bedfordiae the medium-sized shrew species. The cock reaches a length from 48 to 66 millimeters, and is thus shorter than the rest of the body, the rear foot is 11 to 15 millimeters long. The dorsal coloration and belly coloration is almost monochromatic dark brown, the ventral side is slightly lighter than the back. In most individuals, a black strip extending from the middle of the back of the neck.
The head has an overall length of 17 to 19 millimeters and a length of the upper row of teeth from 7.1 to 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 are approximately the same size, the fourth and fifth take gradually in size from or are equal. In its appearance it corresponds very strongly S. cylindricauda, but is slightly smaller and the tail is longer in proportion to the body, also the fifth unicuspid tooth is much smaller.
Dissemination
Sorex bedfordiae born in South Asia before in China, Nepal and northern Myanmar. In Nepal, the kind of Khumjung and Ringmo is known in China, she lives in the south of Gansu Province and the western Shensi to Yunnan. The height distribution is approximately 2135-4270 meters.
Way of life
Over the life of this kind are of the genus is little data as in many species. Sorex bedfordiae is from Nepal known mainly from mountain forests and meadows at altitudes above 4000 meters, in China she lives at a lower height, especially in the Rhododendron - coniferous forest zone. She lives on the ground in the leaf litter and like all shrews feeding on invertebrates, especially insects. About the propagation are no observations.
System
Sorex bedfordiae 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 1911, who described an individual from the Emei Shan in Sichuan Province. The species was partially S. cylindricauda assigned as a subspecies, but is now recognized as a species. Within the genus, the species of the subgenus Sorex is classified.
Within the species in addition to the nominate Sorex bedfordiae bedfordiae no further sub- types can be distinguished.
Threat and protection
Sorex bedfordiae is classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN ) due to the relatively large area of distribution and the assumed large stocks as not at risk ( least concern ). Potential existence-threatening threats are not known.