Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Cladus: Craniata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Cladus: Synapsida
Cladus: Eupelycosauria
Cladus: Sphenacodontia
Cladus: Sphenacodontoidea
OrdoTherapsida
Cladus: Theriodontia
Subordo: Cynodontia
Cladus: Mammaliaformes
Classis: Mammalia
Subclassis: Trechnotheria
Infraclassis: Zatheria
Supercohort: Theria
Cohort: Eutheria
Cohort: Placentalia
Ordo: Soricomorpha
Familia: Soricidae
Subfamilia: Soricinae
Tribus: Soricini
Genus: Sorex
Species: Sorex alpinus
Name
Sorex alpinus Schinz, 1837
Type locality: St Gotthard Pass, Switzerland
References
Sorex alpinus 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: Sorex alpinus Schinz, 1837 (Near Threatened)
Vernacular names
català: Musaranya alpina
Deutsch: Alpenspitzmaus
English: Alpine Shrew
français: Musaraigne alpine
magyar: Havasi cickány
Nederlands: Bergspitsmuis
polski: Ryjówka górska
slovenčina: Piskor horský
The alpine shrew (Sorex alpinus) is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is found in the alpine meadows and coniferous forests of Southern European mountain ranges: the Alps, the Pyrenees, the Carpathian Mountains and the Balkans.
Description
The Alpine shrew is 6 to 7.7 centimetres (2.4 to 3.0 in) in length, not including a tail as long as its body, and weighs between 5.5 and 11.5 g (0.2 and 0.4 oz). It is a uniform greyish-black on its dorsal (upper) surface and greyish-brown on its underparts. The tips of its teeth are reddish-brown and it has a long pointed snout, small black eyes and rounded pink ears. Its legs and feet are white and the underside of its hairy tail is yellowish.[2] Juveniles are somewhat paler than adults.[3] It shares its range with the common shrew Sorex araneus and the Eurasian pygmy shrew Sorex minutus but is distinguishable from these by its darker fur and longer tail.[2]
Distribution and habitat
The Alpine shrew is found in the mountains and uplands of Central and Eastern Europe and parts of France. Its range includes the Alps, the Black Forest, the Jura Mountains, the mountains of southern Germany, the Krkonoše, the Beskids, the Tatra Mountains, the Carpathian Mountains, the Transylvanian Alps, the uplands of Vosges and the mountains of the former Yugoslavia. The Alpine shrew is found in Alpine meadows and in coniferous woodland at elevations between about 200 and 2,500 metres (660 and 8,200 ft).[3] It sometimes occurs above the tree line but more normally favours damp pastures and swampy ground near small streams in areas with dwarf sparse conifers near the upper limit of tree cover.[3] It tends to lurk in dense vegetation, occupies rock crevices and lives under boulders or fallen branches and often occurs near mountain huts.[3]
Behaviour
The Alpine shrew is nocturnal and is a skilled climber, using its tail for balance. It uses scent glands on its flanks to mark its territory. Like other shrew species, it has a high metabolic rate and needs to feed frequently. It eats insects, spiders, snails and earthworms and is in turn the prey of foxes, weasels, domestic cats and tawny owls.[2]
Status
The Alpine shrew is listed as "Near Threatened" in the IUCN's Red List of Threatened Species. This is because it occupies a number of separate, disjunct mountain regions and seems to be slowly declining in numbers. It may be threatened by habitat destruction as hydro-electric schemes and increased tourism impact its environment. It used to be present in the Pyrenees but has not been seen there for many years and may be extinct there, nor has it been seen recently in the Harz Mountain region of Germany.[1]
References
Meinig, H.; Bertolino, S.; zima, j. (2020). "Sorex alpinus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T29660A114024313. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T29660A114024313.en. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
Burke, Felicity (2011). "Sorex alpinus: Alpine shrew". Animal Diversity Web. University of Michigan. Retrieved 2013-08-21.
Konig, Claus (1973). Mammals. Collins & Co. pp. 22–23. ISBN 978-0-00-212080-7.
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