Uropsilus investigator

Russell A. Mittermeier & Don E. Wilson, 2018, Talpidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 8 Insectivores, Sloths and Colugos, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 52-619 : 597

4.

Inquisitive Shrew Mole

Uropsilus investigator

French: Taupe du Yunnan / German: Yunnan-Spitzmausmaulwurf / Spanish: Topo musarana de Yunnan

Taxonomy. Nasillus investigator Thomas , 1922,

“Kui-chiang-Salween divide at 28° N. Alt. 11,000’ {= 3353 m}],” Yunnan, China .

Uropsilus investigator was formerly included in U. gracilis , but morphological and molecular data support its classification as a distinct species. Monotypic.

Distribution. SW China (NW Yunnan) and possibly adjacent NE Myanmar (= Burma).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 67-83 mm, tail 54-75 mm, hindfoot 13-16 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. The Inquisitive Shrew Mole is similar to the Gracile Shrew Mole ( U. gracilis ) but distinguished by its larger size and darker, almost black, pelage. Dental formulais12/1,C1/1,P 4/4, M 3/3 (x2) = 38.

Habitat. Open alpine meadows and fir forests at high elevations (from 3600 m to 4600 m).

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. The Inquisitive Shrew Mole is terrestrial.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Data Deficient on The IUCN Red List. The Inquisitive Shrew Mole is only known from a few locations in restricted areas of Gaoligong and Tengchong in north-western Yunnan, close to the border with Myanmar, and there is no information aboutits population status, habitat preferences, ecology, or conservation threats.

Bibliography. Hoffmann (1984), Hoffmann & Lunde (2008), Hutterer (2005a), Tu Feiyun et al. (2015), Wan Tao etal. (2013).

Figures

1. Equivalent-teeth Shrew Mole (Uropsilus aequodonenia), 2. Anderson’s Shrew Mole (Uropsilus andersont), 3. Gracile Shrew Mole (Uropsilus gracilis), 4. Inquisitive Shrew Mole (Uropsilus investigator), 5. Chinese Shrew Mole (Uropsilus soricipes), 6. Snow Mountain Shrew Mole (Uropsilus nivatus), 7. Black-backed Shrew Mole (Uropsilus atronates), 8. Gansu Mole (Scapanulus oweni), 9. Hairy-tailed Mole (Parascalops breweri), 10. Coast Mole (Scapanus orarius), 11. Townsend’s Mole (Scapanus townsend), 12. Broad-footed Mole (Scapanus latimanus), 13. Mexican Mole (Scapanus anthonyi), 14. Eastern Mole (Scalopus aquaticus), 15. Long-tailed Mole (Scaptonyx fusicauda), 16. Japanese Shrew Mole (Urotrichus talpoides), 17. True’s Shrew Mole (Dymecodon pilirostris), 18. American Shrew Mole (Neurotrichus gibbsi), 19. Star-nosed Mole (Condylura cristata), 20. Russian Desman (Desmana moschata), 21. Pyrenean Desman (Galemys pyrenaicus)

Distribution. SW China (NW Yunnan) and possibly adjacent NE Myanmar (= Burma).