Galericidae Pomel, 1848

Abramov, Alexei V., 2021, An annotated checklist of the insectivores (Mammalia, Eulipotyphla) of Laos, Zootaxa 5006 (1), pp. 13-25 : 15

Family Galericidae Pomel, 1848

Hylomys peguensis Blyth, 1859 – Indochinese lesser gymnure

Conservation Significance: Not assigned (Least Concern as Hylomys suillus – see Chiozza 2016e).

Distribution: Northern and central Laos. There are species records from Phongsali ( Osgood 1932, and specimens kept in AMNH, FMNH, and MHNG) and Xieng Khouang provinces ( Osgood 1932, and specimens kept in AMNH).

Natural history: Appears to be confined to open grassland, hill and middle mountain forests with dense understory and ground litter at the elevations of 90–1300 m. Lesser gymnures were recorded from China at the elevations up to 3300 m ( Hoffmann & Lunde 2008), however, the species identification of those specimens needs verification. Nowhere abundant .

Taxonomic notes: Lesser gymnures from most of Southeast Asia, including Laos, were previously attributed to H. suillus ( Corbet & Hill 1992; Robinson 1999; Hutterer 2005). A recent mtDNA analysis proved that the taxon H. suillus (sensu Hutterer 2005) represents a paraphyletic association of five to seven full species, including an undescribed taxon from southern Vietnam, Hylomys sp. ( Bannikova et al. 2014). According to these data the name H. suillus should be applied to the Java population only, whereas available name for most populations from Indochina is H. peguensis . It seems that two forms of H. peguensis of an unclear taxonomic rank could occur in Laos: (1) peguensis , which occurs from eastern Thailand to western Laos; and (2) microtinus, distributed from northern Vietnam to north-eastern Laos.

In the south-eastern part of Laos, an unnamed Hylomys sp. recorded from southern Vietnam could also be found ( Bannikova et al. 2014; Pavlova et al. 2018). Duckworth et al. (1994) reported on field observations of small gymnures in Dong Hua Sao National Biodiversity Conservation Area (NBCA), Champasak Province, at 1200 m on the Bolaven Plateau amid degraded scrublands. Bergmans (1995) mentioned village reports of sightings from Dakdan and Rak, both located in Sekong Province. Perhaps, these records can be referred to the same Hylomys sp.

[ Neotetracus sinensis Trouessart, 1909 – Shrew gymnure, or Chinese gymnure]

Conservation Significance: Least Concern ( Smith & Johnston 2016).

Distribution: Not recorded in Laos; however, as it is found in the adjacent parts of southern China ( Hoffmann & Lunde 2008) and northern Vietnam ( Abramov et al. 2013a) it is highly likely to occur in northern parts of Laos as well.

Natural history: In China and Vietnam, this species inhabits subtropical evergreen and mixed forests at high altitudes (1500–2700 m). Nowhere abundant.

Otohylomys megalotis ( Jenkins et Robinson, 2002) – Long-eared gymnure

Conservation Significance: Data Deficient ( Chiozza 2016d).

Distribution: Endemic of central Laos ( Chiozza 2016d). Recorded from Thakhek District in Khammuan Limestone NBCA ( Jenkins & Robinson 2002). This limited range probably reflects the lack of detailed surveying in central Laos. Probably, the species also occurs in the adjacent limestone area of central Vietnam.

Natural history: The habitat comprised the limestone karst with heavily degraded mixed deciduous forests, scrubland and bamboo. Occurs at low altitudes (100–150 m).

Taxonomic notes: This gymnure species was originally described in the genus Hylomys ( Jenkins & Robinson 2002) . However, by a molecular analysis ( Bannikova et al. 2014), it was placed as the most basal branch of all gymnures. Based on a unique combination of external, craniodental and genetic characteristics, the species was assigned to a separate genus, Otohylomys ( Bannikova et al. 2014).