Blarinomys breviceps

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Megaclassis: Osteichthyes
Cladus: Sarcopterygii
Cladus: Rhipidistia
Cladus: Tetrapodomorpha
Cladus: Eotetrapodiformes
Cladus: Elpistostegalia
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Cladus: Synapsida
Cladus: Eupelycosauria
Cladus: Sphenacodontia
Cladus: Sphenacodontoidea
Cladus: Therapsida
Cladus: Theriodontia
Subordo: Cynodontia
Infraordo: Eucynodontia
Cladus: Probainognathia
Cladus: Prozostrodontia
Cladus: Mammaliaformes
Classis: Mammalia
Subclassis: Trechnotheria
Infraclassis: Zatheria
Supercohors: Theria
Cohors: Eutheria
Infraclassis: Placentalia
Cladus: Boreoeutheria
Superordo: Euarchontoglires
Ordo: Rodentia
Subordo: Myomorpha
Superfamilia: Muroidea

Familia: Cricetidae
Subfamilia: Sigmodontinae
Tribus: Akodontini
Genus: Blarinomys
Species: Blarinomys breviceps
Name

Blarinomys breviceps (Winge, 1888)

Holotype:

Type locality: “Lapa do Capão Secco [= Lapa do Capão Seco],” Lagoa Santa, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Combinations

Oxymycterus breviceps Winge, 1888: 34 [original combination]
Blarinomys breviceps: Thomas, 1896: 310 [name combination]

References
Primary references

Winge, H. 1888. Jordfunde og nulevende Gnavere (Rodentia) fra Lagoa Santa, Minas Geraes, Brasilien: med udsigt over gnavernes indbyrdes slaegtskab. E Museo Lundii Band 1(3). F. Dreyer: Kjöbenhavn. 178 pp. + 8 pls. BHL Reference page.
Thomas, O. 1896. On new small mammals from the Neotropical region. The Annals and Magazine of Natural History, series 6 18: 301–314.

Links

Blarinomys breviceps in Mammal Species of the World.
Wilson, Don E. & Reeder, DeeAnn M. (Editors) 2005. Mammal Species of the World – A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. Third edition. ISBN 0-8018-8221-4.
IUCN: Blarinomys breviceps (Least Concern)

Vernacular names
Deutsch: Brasilianische Spitzmausratte
English: Brazilian Shrew-mouse

The Brazilian shrew mouse (Blarinomys breviceps),[2] also known as the blarinine akodont,[3] is a rodent in the tribe Akodontini from the Atlantic Forest of eastern and southeastern Brazil.[1] It is the only species in the genus Blarinomys.[3] Phylogenetic analysis suggest that there are two clear geographical clades, a northeastern and southeastern. [4]
Morphology

The appearance of the Brazilian shrew mouse is often compared to that of small insectivorous shrews or moles with small, reduced eyes, short ears and tail, and short, soft fur.[5] Its mole-like appearance contributes to its ability to be differentiated from other rodents in its Neotropical habitat.[6] Overall, its specialized body structure lends itself to the animal's subterranean life, with broad forefeet and large claws for digging.[7] It has a long snout that is used to find insects in the ground and highly developed jaw muscles that help to close the mouth quickly, as to avoid swallowing dirt.[5] The species has demonstrated sexual dimorphism in that females are usually slightly larger than males.[6]
Lifespan

The average lifespan of the Brazilian shrew mouse is unknown, as they are difficult to find. Captive specimens tend to refuse food and die shortly after capture.[6] It is generally assumed that the species' lifespan is similar to other Sigmodontinae rodents, which is typically less than one year.[8][page needed]
Diet

Very little is known about the diet of B. breviceps, however it is assumed to be primarily insectivorous. When studied in captivity, many specimens refuse food and die within a few days. However, some captive organisms have been shown to eat a variety of insects including crickets, moths and butterflies, and roaches. Overall, they tend to refuse other food sources such as fruits or seeds.[6]
Conservation status

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of Endangered Species, the Brazilian shrew mouse is considered of least concern.[1] However, some experts suggest that since the species is so difficult to find, data is insufficient to confidently label their conservation status.[9]
References

Pardinas et al., 2008
Duff and Lawson, 2004
Musser and Carleton, 2005
Ventura, K.; Sato-Kuwabara, Y.; Fagundes, V.; Geise, L.; Leite, Y.L.R.; Costa, L.P.; Silva, M.J.J.; Yonenaga-Yassuda, Y.; Rodrigues, M.T. (2012). "Phylogeographic Structure and Karyotypic Diversity of the Brazilian Shrew Mouse (Blarinomys breviceps, Sigmodontinae) in the Atlantic Forest". Cytogenetic and Genome Research. 138 (1): 19–30. doi:10.1159/000341887. ISSN 1424-859X. PMID 22907314. S2CID 207643280.
Missagia, Rafaela Velloso; Perini, Fernando Araujo (November 2018). "Skull morphology of the Brazilian shrew mouse Blarinomys breviceps (Akodontini; Sigmodontinae), with comparative notes on Akodontini rodents". Zoologischer Anzeiger. 277: 148–161. doi:10.1016/j.jcz.2018.09.005. ISSN 0044-5231. S2CID 92290701.
Matson, John O.; Abravaya, J. Paul (1977-06-15). "Blarinomys breviceps". Mammalian Species (74): 1–3. doi:10.2307/3503793. ISSN 0076-3519. JSTOR 3503793.
Hildebrand, Milton (1985), "Chapter 6. Digging of Quadrupeds", Functional Vertebrate Morphology, Harvard University Press, pp. 89–109, doi:10.4159/harvard.9780674184404.c6, ISBN 9780674184404
Nowak, Ronald M. (1999-07-29). Walker's mammals of the world. ISBN 0801857899. OCLC 1037249783.

Alexsander Zamorano ANTUNES Marilda Rapp de ESTON (2010). Registro de Blarinomys breviceps (Winge, 1888) (Cricetidae, Rodentia) no Parque Estadual Carlos Botelho – SP (Nota Científica). A record of Brazilian shrew-mouse Blarinomys breviceps (Winge, 1888) (Cricetidae, Rodentia) in Carlos Botelho State Park – SP, Brazil (Scientific Note). Instituto Florestal. OCLC 860212699.

Literature cited
Duff, A. and Lawson, A. 2004. Mammals of the World: A checklist. New Haven, Connecticut: Yale University Press, 312 pp. ISBN 0-7136-6021-X
Hildebrand, M. 1985. Digging in Quadrupeds. Functional Vertebrate Morphology. Harvard University Press. Pp. 89-109.
Matson, JO and Abravaya, JP. 1977. Blarinomys breviceps. Mammalian Species (74): 1. doi:10.2307/3503793. ISSN 0076-3519.
Missagia, R. and Perini, F. 2018. Skull morphology of the Brazilian shrew mouse Blarinomys breviceps (Akodontini; Sigmodontinae), with comparative notes on Akodontini rodents. Zoologischer Anzeiger. 277. 10.1016/j.jcz.2018.09.005.
Musser, G.G. and Carleton, M.D. 2005. Superfamily Muroidea. Pp. 894–1531 in Wilson, D.E. and Reeder, D.M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: a taxonomic and geographic reference. 3rd ed. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2 vols., 2142 pp. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0
Nowak, R. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World, vol. II. Baltimore and London: The Johns Hopkins University Press.
Pardinas, U., Patterson, B., D'Elia, G. and Teta, P. 2008. Blarinomys breviceps. In IUCN. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2009.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on February 4, 2010.
Ventura, K., Sato-Kuwabara, Y., Fagundes, V., Geise, L., Leite, Y., Costa, L., Silva, M., Yonenaga-Yassuda, Y., Rodrigues, M. 2012. Phylogeographic Structure and Karyotypic Diversity of the Brazilian Shrew Mouse (Blarinomys breviceps, Sigmodontinae) in the Atlantic Forest. Cytogenetic and Genome Research. 138 (1): 19–30.
Zamorano A and Eston MR. 2010. Registro de Blarinomys breviceps (Winge, 1888) (Cricetidae, Rodentia) no Parque Estadual Carlos Botelho – SP (Nota Científica). A record of Brazilian shrew-mouse Blarinomys breviceps (Winge, 1888) (Cricetidae, Rodentia) in Carlos Botelho State Park – SP, Brazil (Scientific Note). Instituto Florestal. OCLC 860212699