Red-toothed shrew

Shrew ( Sorex araneus )

The Soricinae, as well as the largest of its species also known as Rotzahnspitzmäuse, are a subfamily of shrews ( Soricidae ) within the insectivores ( Eulipotyphla ). The taxon includes about 148 species that are distributed among 14 genera.

Features

Like all shrews are also the Soricinae small mammals with body lengths of less than 10 centimeters, to which is added a generally up to 9 centimeters long tail.

The Soricinae or Rotzahnspitzmäuse distinguished from the other sub- families mainly by the specific construction of pine from where the articular surfaces of the lower jaw usually are far apart on the lip side (labial ), however, collide and merge into one another, where they form a sold lingual node form. The mental foramen, a bone opening on the outer side of the horizontal branch of the lower jaw, there is the root of the front molars M1 ( as it is the Crocidurinae behind this one) and the premolar P4 is specific in shape. In general, the types of Soricinae characterized by the eponymous for the Rotzahnspitzmäuse red color pigment to the tooth roots, but this is absent in the genera Anourosorex, Chimarrogale and Nectogale.

Dissemination

The Soricinae are mainly in the northern hemisphere, so Holarctic, distribute and live with nearly 150 species in Eurasia, North and Central America as well as with a few species in the north-western South America. In Africa and in Australia they are missing.

Way of life

The Soricinae correspond in their way of life typical shrews. They usually live on the ground either in leaf litter or in the upper soil layers and feed mainly on invertebrates such as insects, spiders, earthworms and snails. Some species, particularly the water shrews ( Neomys ) are adapted to living in streams and on river banks.

System

The Rotzahnspitzmäuse form in addition to the Crocidurinae (even white teeth shrews ) and the Myosoricinae one of the three subfamilies of shrews within the insectivores. The subfamily was first described scientifically in 1814 by Johann Fischer von Waldheim.

Within the Soricinae about 148 species are distinguished, which are assigned to 14 genera within six tribes. The vast number of species is accounted for by ( authentics ) Rotzahnspitzmäuse ( Sorex ) with about 80 species and the small American ear shrews ( cryptotis ) with about 30 species.

The types and genres of Soricinae are:

• Soricinae Tribus Anourosoricini Stubby tail shrews ( Anourosorex ) in East and Southeast Asia

• Asian short-tailed shrews ( Blarinella )

• American short-tailed shrews ( Blarina ), with four species in North America
• Small ear shrews ( cryptotis ) with about 30 species, confined to America

• Beaver shrews ( Chimarrogale ) with six species in East Asia
• Chodsigoa with eight predominantly living in China Types
• Episoriculus with four species in Asia
• Nectogale, monotypic with the mountain shrew ( Nectogale elegans) in the Himalayan region
• Water shrews ( Neomys ) with three species in Europe and West Asia
• Nesiotites is extinct and lived in a few species on the islands of the Mediterranean
• Soriculus, monotypic with the Sikkim - large claws shrew ( Soriculus nigrescens ) in the Himalayan region

• Megasorex, monotypic with the Mexican desert shrew ( Megasorex gigas) in southwestern Mexico
• Gray desert shrews ( Notiosorex ) with four species in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico

• ( Actual ) Rotzahnspitzmäuse ( Sorex ) with about 80 species, mainly in Eurasia and North America

Documents

• Shrews
• Soricidae