Sylvisorex

The forest musk shrews ( Sylvisorex ) are one living in central Africa shrew genus with about 13 species.

The shrews of this genus are relatively small, they reach head torso lengths from 45 to 100 millimeters and a weight of 3 to 12 grams. The length of the tail can be varied in many ways it is only half as long as the body, in other approximately equal in length. The long, silky fur of these animals is colored gray at the top, the bottom is a little brighter.

The range of this species extends from Nigeria to Uganda and Tanzania. Habitat of these animals are mostly forests. Many species are primarily arboreal and usually stay on the branches, while others probably live temporarily on the floor. Due to the progressive deforestation, some species are considered endangered or threatened.

The exact Artanzahl is still unclear. Wilson & Reeder (2005) distinguish the following twelve species, this comes with Sylvisorex akaibei a kind of newly described in 2009:

  • Sylvisorex akaibei is in the north of the Congo basin at home.
  • The Cameroon Forest musk shrew ( Sylvisorex camerunensis ) is only known from Mount Cameroon. The species is IUCN as threatened ( endangered ).
  • Grants forest musk shrew ( Sylvisorex granti ) is distributed from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Kenya and Tanzania.
  • Sylvisorex howelli is known only from a few locations in Tanzania.
  • Sylvisorex isabellae is endemic on the island of Bioko and is considered threatened.
  • Johnstons forest musk shrew ( Sylvisorex johnstoni ) is distributed from Cameroon to Tanzania.
  • The Kongana - forest musk shrew ( Sylvisorex konganensis ) lives in the Congo Basin and has been described by scientists until the 1990s.
  • Sylvisorex lunaris lives in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda.
  • Sylvisorex morio lives only on the Cameroon Mountain and is considered endangered.
  • Sylvisorex ollula is spread from eastern Nigeria to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
  • Sylvisorex oriundus lives in the northeast of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
  • Sylvisorex silvanorum lives in the Bamenda Highlands, Cameroon
  • Korup forest musk shrew ( Sylvisorex pluvialis ) from the Central African Republic was first scientifically described in 1996.
  • The volcano - dwarf shrew ( Sylvisorex vulcanorum ) lives in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda.

Another type, p megalura, is now classified into the genus Suncus.

Laurasiatheria White-toothed shrew Oldfield Thomas Don E. Wilson Digital Object Identifier
758006
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