Shrew moles
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Shrew Mole |
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| Milne-Edwards , 1871 |
The uropsilinae ( Uropsilus ) is a mammal genus from the family of moles (Talpidae). Their physique is more like shrews than other moles and they don't lead a burrowing way of life. The genus includes seven species that live in eastern Asia .
features
The body structure of the shrew mole is atypical for moles and shows similarities to that of the shrew. The tail is almost as long as the body, the paws are small and with their soft claws not suitable for digging. They are the only moles with clearly visible outer auricles, the snout is elongated and flexible. The fur is gray-brown in color, the feet and tail are barely hairy, but rather have scales. These animals reach a head body length of 6 to 9 centimeters, in addition there is a 5 to 8 centimeter long tail. The weight - as far as known - is 12 to 20 grams.
distribution and habitat
Shrew moles live in the Chinese provinces of Sichuan and Yunnan as well as in northern Myanmar . Their habitat are forests and mountain regions from 1250 to 4500 meters above sea level.
Way of life
Little is known about the way these animals live. According to reports, they can even climb around in bushes or low branches, but mostly look for food in the foliage on the ground. This should consist of invertebrates. Hollow tree trunks and crevices in the rock probably serve as resting places.
Systematics and types
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Internal systematics of shrew moles according to He et al. 2016
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The shrew moles systematically take on a special role within the moles due to their special physique and are managed in their own subfamily, Uropsilinae. Phylogenetic studies see them as the sister taxon of all other moles.
Seven species are distinguished within the genus. These are very similar and were not recognized as four different types until the 1980s.
- The same tooth Shrew Mole ( Uropsilus aequodonenia ) was from the Chinese province in 2013 Sichuan first described and is more closely related to the Anderson shrew mole.
- The Anderson shrew mole ( Uropsilus andersoni ) lives in Sichuan Province.
- The Chinese shrew mole ( Uropsilus gracilis ) is known from Sichuan, Yunnan and northern Myanmar.
- Black- backed shrew mole ( Uropsilus atronates ) was partially incorporated into the Chinese shrew mole , but is independent according to genetic analysis.
- The Yunnan shrew mole ( Uropsilus investigator ) has so far only been found in Yunnan at an altitude of 3,600 meters. The species is loud IUCN endangered ( endangered ).
- The Yulong shrew mole ( Uropsilus nivatus ) was partially synonymous with the Chinese shrew mole , but genetic studies show that it is not closely related to it.
- The Sichuan shrew mole ( Uropsilus soricipes ) is restricted to a small area in central Sichuan at an altitude of 1,500 to 2,700 meters. This species is also considered endangered.
In addition to these recognized species, molecular genetic analyzes show that the genus also includes other cryptic species . The genetic material examined so far yielded at least 15 monophyletic lines representing all possible species. Accordingly, in addition to the seven previously known species, at least eight representatives are undescribed. The various lines were diversified over a period between 4.34 and 1.25 million years, from the Lower Pliocene to the Lower Pleistocene . The previous distinction between shrew moles was based on deviations in the tooth formula and size variations of the upper premolars . The suspected new species do not show any deviations in these characteristics, but lie within the range of variation of the forms already described, mainly Chinese, but also the Sichuan and Yunnan shrew mole. Therefore, further investigations have to be carried out in order to distinguish the possible species from the known representatives in a morphological way.
literature
- Ronald M. Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World. 2 volumes. 6th edition. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD et al. 1999, ISBN 0-8018-5789-9 .
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c d e Kai He, Akio Shinohara, Kristofer M. Helgen, Mark S. Springer, Xue-Long Jiang and Kevin L. Campbell: Talpid Mole Phylogeny Unites Shrew Moles and Illuminates Overlooked Cryptic Species Diversity. Molecular Biology and Evolution 34 (1), 2016, pp. 78-87
- ↑ Liu Yang, Liu Shaoying, Sun Zhiyu, Guo Peng, Fan Zhenxin and Robert W. Murphy: A new species of Uropsilus (Talpidae: Uropsilinae) from Sichuan, China. Acta Theriologica Sinica 3 (2), 2013, pp. 113-122
- ↑ a b c Tao Wan, Kai He and Xue-Long Jiang: Multilocus phylogeny and cryptic diversity in Asian shrew-like moles (Uropsilus, Talpidae): implications for taxonomy and conservation. BMC Evolutionary Biology 13, 2013, p. 232 ( [1] )
- ↑ Yu Xu, Yunting Hu and Feiyun Tu: Mitogenomes of a cryptic species within Uropsilus and divergence time estimation. Mitochondrial DNA Part B: Resources 2 (2), 2017, pp. 685-686
- ↑ Tao Wan, Kai He, Wei Jin, Shao ‐ Ying Liu, Zhong ‐ Zheng Chen, Bin Zhang, Robert W. Murphy, and Xue ‐ Long Jiang: Climate Niche Conservatism and Complex Topography Illuminate the Cryptic Diversification of Asian Shrew ‐ like Moles. Journal of Biogeography, 2018 doi: 10.1111 / jbi.13401
Web links
- Endangerment level of the individual species in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species .