Ceylon white shrew
| Ceylon white shrew | ||||||||||
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| Systematics | ||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||
| Crocidura miya | ||||||||||
| Phillips , 1929 |
The Ceylon white shrew ( Crocidura miya ) is a species of shrew that is endemic to Sri Lanka . It has a body length of 8–9 centimeters, the length of the tail is 4–4.5 centimeters.
Appearance
This species has a red-brown fur, the belly and throat are white. The thin paws are bare, the tail is sparsely hairy. The head is long and the forehead is very flat. The rest of the body is rather elongated and the back is flat.
distribution and habitat
The Ceylon shrew is found only in the wet and dry forests and savannas on the island of Sri Lanka .
Way of life
It lives mainly on the forest floor. There the Ceylon shrew mainly looks for invertebrates . Occasionally it also eats smaller lizards or young birds . To scare off her enemies, she uses her scent glands, which give off a penetrating odor.
Reproduction
The breeding season lasts from March to November. During this time, the female gives birth to litters of approx. 6 cubs or more up to 5 times. The young remain in the nest for the first 8 days of their lives. Then they leave the nest with each youngster firmly biting the tail of the previous animal.
Hazard and protection
The IUCN lists this species in the Endangered category . The reasons for this are the small number of individuals, the conversion of their living space into agricultural areas, the use of pesticides , logging and forest fires . It is not clear whether the species occurs in protected areas. The biology of the species has not yet been adequately researched for further protective measures.
literature
- The great world empire of the animals Page: 34,35 Planet Medien AG Zug 1997 ISBN 3-8247-8614-1
Web links
- Crocidura miya inthe IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020.1. Listed by: Dando, T. & Kennerley, R., 2019. Retrieved April 14, 2020.