Armored shrew
| Armored shrew | ||||||||||||
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Armored shrew ( Scutisorex somereni ) |
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| Scutisorex somereni | ||||||||||||
| ( Thomas , 1910) |
The hero shrew ( scutisorex somereni ), also sign shrew called, is a mammal of the family of shrews (Soricidae). It differs from all other mammals by the special structure of the spine .
description
With a head body length of 12 to 15 centimeters and a seven to ten centimeter long tail and a weight of up to 110 grams, the armored shrew is one of the largest shrew species. Their thick, coarse fur is gray in color. However, the lumbar spine is remarkable , in which the vertebrae are not only connected to one another, as in most vertebrates, by lateral processes, but also by dorsal (facing towards the back) and ventral (ventrally facing) processes. On the one hand, this means that their backs are extremely flexible, which gives them advantages when moving. According to research, they manage to turn around in a tube that is barely larger than the animal itself. On the other hand, the anatomical peculiarity causes a great resilience, so there are reports that a person weighing 80 kg can stand barefoot on the animal without it being harmed.
distribution
Armored shrews inhabit swampy, water-rich forest areas in the north of the Democratic Republic of the Congo as well as in Uganda and Rwanda .
Way of life
Apart from their anatomy , the shrews have hardly been researched. They should have no fixed periods of activity and be both diurnal and nocturnal. They mark their territory with the pungent-smelling secretion of scent glands. They search under leaves, rotten wood and stones for their food, which consists of insects , caterpillars , earthworms and carrion. Almost nothing is known about their reproduction.
Legends
Due to the extreme resilience of these animals, magical powers are attributed to them in the Congo region, which is also reflected in the English term "hero shrew". According to one superstition , it is enough to carry a fur or any part of the body of the shrew with you to become invulnerable. There is no information about the frequency or degree of endangerment of these animals.
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
- Scutisorex somereni inthe IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2013.2. Posted by: Kerbis Peterhans, J., 2008. Retrieved December 27, 2013.