Big red muskrat shrew
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Great red muskrat shrew ( Crocidura flavescens ) |
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| Crocidura flavescens | ||||||||||||
| ( I. Geoffroy , 1827) |
The great red muskrat shrew ( Crocidura flavescens ) or African giant shrew is a mammal in the genus of white-toothed shrews found in southern Africa .
features
The species reaches a head-trunk length of 81 to 117 mm, a tail length of 36 to 59 mm and a weight of 20 to 40 g. There are 13 to 16 mm long hind feet and 9 to 11 mm long ears. Despite the German name, the fur on the top is rather fawn to cinnamon in color. It is formed from hair with a gray base, light middle part and brown tip. The hair on the underside is dark gray at the base and light yellow to white at the top, which results in a light gray to yellowish gray coat color. The boundary between the two color areas is often striking. The tail is similarly colored and only lightly covered with hair. This shrew has a narrow head with a pointed snout, small eyes and rounded ears. There are five fingers or toes on the hands and feet.
distribution
The distribution area is in coastal and eastern regions of South Africa , as well as in southern Mozambique , in Lesotho and in Swaziland . The species lives mainly near water and in rainy areas. It can be found in coastal forests, savannahs and other grasslands, in the fynbos landscape , on fallow land or in urbanized areas. The great red muskrat shrew 1500 meters in the mountains.
Way of life
This shrew is mainly crepuscular or nocturnal. The individuals live alone outside of the mating season and mark their territory with secretions from the anal glands as well as with excrement, which give off a haunting stench. Presumably, the territories of different sexes overlap. The species occasionally digs holes in the ground for shelter and often visits gardens or buildings. It can climb walls and rocks, but avoids higher vegetation. In unfavorable outdoor conditions, a spontaneous torpor can occur, as is also known from Eurasian shrews.
Mainly invertebrates such as snails, earthworms and insects serve as food , with a compliment of small reptiles and rodents and rarely carcasses. One specimen in captivity killed and ate a puff adder ( Bitis arietans ). Coprophagy and cannibalism are also documented for the great red muskrat shrew .
Before the young are born, during the breeding season between August and April, the female builds a nest out of plant parts on a grassy hill or in a crevice. After a gestation of 28 to 36 days, naked and blind young animals are born. A litter usually consists of four young animals and occasionally seven offspring. These are carried in the mother's mouth for the first week. Later, the family hikes in the single file , which is typical for many shrews , with the animals holding onto the tail of their predecessor. The young are suckled for 18 to 22 days. They reach sexual maturity after two to three months.
The predators of the species include owls, martens and mongooses . It is sometimes killed by domestic cats, who, however, disdain the carcass. In the wild, the great red muskrat shrew 14 to 18 months of age. Individual specimens in captivity lived to be 2.5 years old.
This shrew communicates with various beeping and chirping sounds, some of which are in the ultrasonic range. However , it is not known to use these tones for echolocation .
status
No significant threats are known to the population of this species. It is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN .
supporting documents
- ↑ Don E. Wilson , DeeAnn M. Reeder (Ed.): Mammal Species of the World . A taxonomic and geographic Reference . 3. Edition. 2 volumes. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2005, ISBN 0-8018-8221-4 (English, Crocidura flavescens ).
- ↑ a b c d e f Jonathan Kingdon, David Happold, Michael Hoffmann, Thomas Butynski, Meredith Happold, Jan Kalina (Eds.): Mammals of Africa, Volume III. A&C Black, 2013, ISBN 978-1-4081-2257-0 , pp. 76-77, Crocidura flavescens
- ↑ a b c Crocidura flavescens in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2016 Posted by: Cassola, F., 2016. Accessed January 26, 2017th
- ↑ a b c d e f Apps, Peter (ed.): Smither's Mammals of Southern Africa . Struik, 2008, ISBN 1-86872-550-2 , pp. 31-32 (English, Crocidura flavescens ).
- ↑ Rod M. Baxter: Evidence for spontaneous torpor in Crocidura flavescens. Acta Theriologica 41, 1996, pp. 327-330
