Mexican desert shrew
| Mexican desert shrew | ||||||||||||
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name of the genus | ||||||||||||
| Megasorex | ||||||||||||
| Hibbard , 1950 | ||||||||||||
| Scientific name of the species | ||||||||||||
| Megasorex gigas | ||||||||||||
| ( Merriam , 1897) |
The Mexican desert shrew ( Megasorex gigas ) is an in Mexico endemic mammal species of the family of shrews (Soricidae).
features
The fur of these shrews is dark brown or gray-brown on the upper side, the underside is lighter. The skull is comparatively large and round. These animals reach a head body length of 83 to 90 millimeters, to which a 39 to 50 millimeter long tail comes. The weight is between 9.5 and 12 grams.
Distribution and way of life
The distribution area of the Mexican desert shrews is in southwestern Mexico and includes the states of Nayarit , Jalisco , Colima , Michoacán , Guerrero and Oaxaca . Despite its name, it not only lives in deserts, but also inhabits forests and other habitats, preferably near rivers and occurs at sea heights of up to 1700 meters. Otherwise, little is known about their way of life.
In total, only around 20 specimens of this type of scientific research have become known. According to the IUCN , however, it is not threatened.
Systematics
The Mexican desert shrew is likely to be closely related to the gray desert shrew and is sometimes placed in the same genus, Notiosorex , but mostly as a separate genus.
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 .
Web links
- Megasorex gigas in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2006. Posted by: Insectivore Specialist Group, 1996. Accessed on 11/01/2007.