Gray desert shrews
| Gray desert shrews | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Notiosorex crawfordi |
||||||||||||
| Systematics | ||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Notiosorex | ||||||||||||
| Coues , 1877 |
The dawn desert shrews ( Notiosorex ) are a living in America mammal species from the family of shrews (Soricidae).
features
These shrews are among the smaller members of their family, they reach a head body length of 5 to 7 centimeters, plus a 2 to 3 centimeter long tail. The weight varies between 3 and 5 grams. The fur is gray on the upper side, the underside is a little lighter. The ears protrude clearly from the fur.
distribution and habitat
Gray desert shrews are common in the southwestern United States (from California to Arkansas ) and in northern Mexico (from Baja California to Tamaulipas ). Their preferred habitat are semi-deserts and other arid habitats, but they are not picky about their habitat.
Way of life
These animals are better adapted to dry habitats than other shrews. The metabolic rate is lower, which reduces the loss of moisture when breathing, and the urine is highly concentrated. In times of lack of food they fall into a torpor .
In contrast to many other shrews, these animals do not dig their own burrows, but rather refer to those of other animals or build a nest on the surface of the earth using bark, leaves and hair. There are even reports that they sometimes enter beehives.
These animals are nocturnal and feed primarily on insects and other invertebrates.
Reproduction
Mating can take place all year round, and the female often has two litters per year, which consist of up to six newborns. The animals are sexually mature at two months, life expectancy is rarely more than a year.
Systematics
There are four types of gray desert shrews:
- Notiosorex crawfordi was the only known species until recently. It lives in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico .
- Notiosorex villai was scientifically described in 2000 and lives in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas .
- Notiosorex evotis lives on the west coast of Mexico.
- Notiosorex cockrumi was scientifically described in 2004, the species is so far only known from Arizona .
literature
- Ronald M. Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World. 2 volumes. 6th edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD et al. 1999, ISBN 0-8018-5789-9 .
- Don E. Wilson , DeeAnn M. Reeder (Eds.): Mammal Species of the World. A taxonomic and geographic Reference. 2 volumes. 3. Edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2005, ISBN 0-8018-8221-4 .
Web links
- Information and illustration on Animal Diversity Web
- Notiosorex crawfordi in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2006. Posted by: Insectivore Specialist Group, 1996. Accessed on 11/01/2007.