Blarina carolinensis (Bachman, 1837)

Russell A. Mittermeier & Don E. Wilson, 2018, Soricidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 8 Insectivores, Sloths and Colugos, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 332-551 : 444-445

138.

Southern Short-tailed Shrew

Blarina carolinensis

French: Musaraigne de Caroline / German: Stdliche Kurzschwanzspitzmaus / Spanish: Musarana colicorta meridional

Other common names: Carolina Short-eared Shrew

Taxonomy. Sorex carolinensis Bachman, 1837 ,

“ upper and maritime districts of South Carolina,”

USA.

Blarina carolinensis was included as a subspecies of B. brevicaudus by E. R. Hall in 1981 and included B. hulophaga as a subspecies until S. B. George and colleagues in 1981 recognized it as a distinct species. S. V. Brant and G. Orti in 2002 found that B. carolinensis was sister to B. brevicaudus, with B. hulophaga being sister to the clade. R. A. Benedict and colleagues revised the taxonomy of Blarina in Florida and determined that B. shermani was a distinct species but placed B. peninsulae as a subspecies of B. carolinensis , based primarily on morphometric data. Although B. peninsulaeis not significantly different from B. carolinensis morphologically and might hybridize in northern Florida, B. peninsulae has a unique karyotype. Additional genetic studies are needed to clarify its specific status, although Brant and Orti did include two specimens from the distribution of B. peninsulae that clustered within the eastern clade of B. carolinensis , but their specific status was not mentioned. Blarina peninsulae is recognized as a distinct species here until genetic studies clarify its status. There are two major clades in B. carolinensis on either side of the Mississippi River (eastern and western) that correspond to recognized subspecies. Two subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

B.c.carolinensisBachman,1837—SEUSA,EoftheMississippiRiver(SIllinois,WKentucky,WTennessee,Mississippi,SELouisiana,SAlabama,SGeorgia,NFlorida,SouthCarolina,ENorthCarolina,andSEVirginia).

B. c. minima Lowery, 1943 — SE USA, W of the Mississippi River (SE Missouri, Arkansas, most of Louisiana, and E Texas).

Descriptive notes. Head—body 69-80 mm, tail 12-26 mm, hindfoot 10-13 mm; weight 5-13 g. The Southern Short-tailed Shrew is large and robust, but it is significantly smaller than the Northern Short-tailed Shrew (B. brevicaudus) and Elliot’s Short-tailed Shrew (B. hulophaga). There seems to be a clinal increase in size from south to north in western populations. Pelage is short, soft, velvety, and mole-like. Dorsal pelage is slate grayish black or brown, with silvery tinge; ventral pelage is slightly paler. There is a bare patch of lightly colored skin around diminutive eyes. Ears are very small and completely concealed by fur; vibrissae are long and white. Tail is less than 30% of head-body length, hairy, and similar in color to dorsal pelage, with small tuft at end. Feet are short and broad, with long claws, and are paler than rest of body. Hindfeet are darker than forefeet. Females have three pairs of inguinal mammae. Characteristic of the genus, the Northern Short-tailed Shrew has five unicuspid teeth and significantly larger and angular skull than other shrews. All species of Blarina also have reddish teeth from iron deposits within their teeth. They can be differentiated from the Northern Short-tailed Shrew by height of the coronoid process, which is typically less than 6 mm, and length of mandibular tooth row, which is usually less than 6-5 mm. Southern Short-tailed Shrews might also have venomous saliva similar to the Northern Short-tailed Shrew. More than 89 species of parasites have been recorded from the Southern Short-tailed Shrew, including cestodes (Cryptocotylepis), trematodes (Brachylaima, Brachylecithum, and Panopistus), nematodes (Capillaria, Longistriata, Physaloptera, and Porrocaecum), thorny headed worms (Centrorhynchus), mites (Androlaelaps, Asiochirus, Bakerdania, Blarinobia, Comatacarus, Cyrtolaelaps, Euschoengastia, Glycyphagus, Protolaelaps, Prowichmannia, Xenoryctes, etc.) fleas (Ctenophthalmus, Doratopsylla, and Stenoponia), ticks (Dermacentor), and beetles (Leptinus). Chromosomal complement has 2n = 46 and FN = 44-45, but it was reported to be 2n = 31-41 and FN = 41-45 in western Tennessee and northern Mississippi.

Habitat. Variety of moist and upland habitats such as moist deciduous woods, brushy areas, pine woodland and forest, mixed oak/pine/juniper woods, grassy regions, and densely wooded floodplains. Southern Short-tailed Shrews can also be found in disturbed habitats such as strip-mined regions, abandoned agricultural fields, and areas disturbed by tornadoes. They are most commonly found in moist environments, with deep leaflitter and rotting logs in which they regularly build nests, but they can be abundant in dry habitats in some regions.

Food and Feeding. The Southern Short-tailed Shrew is omnivorous, primarily eating arthropods, mollusks, and fungi. One study found that they ate slugs and snails (18:5%), hypogeous fungi ( Endogone and related genera; 16-3%), earthworms (14-8%), beetles (9-6%), and beetle larvae (5-8%) in upper coastal plain of South Carolina. In xeric pine forests of North Carolina, they ate centipedes (22-:3%), hypogeous fungi (14:6%), fly larvae (12:3%), spiders (10%), and flies (9-1%). In Tennessee, beetles, ants, and slugs were most abundantin the diet. On Cumberland Island off the coast of Georgia, they ate introduced terrestrial amphipods (7Talitroides topitotum; 21-8%), beetle larvae (12-4%), centipedes (11:8%), earthworms (9-1%), moth larvae (8:6%), and spiders (7-4%), and fungi made up only 3-:8% of the diet. They might eat small amounts of plant material and small mammals, but there are no reports of this. Although venom and hoarding has not been recorded, they might have a venom similar to the Northern Short-tailed Shrew, which is used to subdue prey and potentially hoard paralyzed prey.

Breeding. Breeding of the Southern Short-tailed Shrew occurs from February or March to November in most of its distribution, but a lactating female was captured in southwestern Alabama in late December, indicating a longer and possibly year-round breeding season at southern latitudes. There are peaks in reproductive activity in spring and late summer/early autumn. Gestation probably lasts 21-30 days. Litters have 2-6 young (average c.3-9) across its distribution, but averages of 3-7 young in March—July and 4-2 young in September—November in South Carolina have been reported. Southern Shorttailed Shrews can breed multiple times each season and after c.60 days of age; young born early in the season can breed in the same year they were born.

Activity patterns. Southern Short-tailed Shrews are semi-fossorial and primarily nocturnal. They are captured more frequently at night in summer and during the day in winter, probably due to cooler temperatures at night in summer and warmer temperatures during day in winter. They build extensive tunnels in topsoil and deep leaflitter. Nests are built 30 cm belowground under logs or even within rotting logs. Nests usually are filled with roots and grass.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Southern Short-tailed Shrew is solitary except when breeding and rearing young. Population size and abundance fluctuate among seasons and years, peaking following spring and autumn when reproductive activity is at its highest. In southern Illinois, densities peaked at 57 ind/ha in late summer and early autumn, gradually decreasing in winter, and rate of capture was higher with increased humidity and decreased precipitation. Densities in South Carolina were 1-2-2-2 ind/ha in winter and early spring and 6-3 ind/ha in late summer and early autumn—all of which are significantly smaller estimates than those found in southern Illinois. In South Carolina, home ranges of seven individuals averaged 0-96 ha.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Southern Short-tailed Shrew is common and widespread with no major threats. Densities can be affected by drought and habitat destruction, but they are generally considered resilient in disturbed habitats.

Bibliography. Benedict et al. (2006), Brant & Orti (2002), Cassola (2016g), Genoways & Choate (1998), George, Choate & Genoways (1981), George, Genoways et al. (1982), Hall (1981), Hutterer (2005b), Jones et al. (1984), McCay (2001), Reid (2006), Whitaker & Ruckdeschel (2006), Whitaker et al. (1994), Whittaker & Feldhamer (2000, 2005).

Figures

136. Elliot’s Short-tailed Shrew (Blarina hulophaga), 137. Northern Short-tailed Shrew (Blarina brevicaudus), 138. Southern Short-tailed Shrew (Blarina carolinensis), 139. Everglades Short-tailed Shrew (Blarina peninsulae), 140. Sherman’s Short-tailed Shrew (Blarina shermani), 141. Sichuan Short-tailed Shrew (Blarinella quadraticauda), 142. Burmese Short-tailed Shrew (Blarinella wardi), 143. Indochinese Short-tailed Shrew (Blarinella griselda), 144. Chinese Mole Shrew (Anourosorex squamaipes), 145. Taiwanese Mole Shrew (Anowrosorex yamashinai), 146. Assam Mole Shrew (Anowrosorex assamensis), 147. Giant Mole Shrew (Anourosorex schmid), 148. Desert Gray Shrew (Notiosorex crawfordi), 149. Cockrum’s Gray Shrew (Notiosorex cockrumi), 150. Large-eared Gray Shrew (Notiosorex evolis), 151. Villa’s Gray Shrew (Notiosorex villa), 152. Mexican Shrew (Megasorex gigas), 153. Taiwanese Brown-toothed (Shrew Epusoriculusfumidus), 154. Arboreal Brown-toothed Shrew (Episoriculus macrurus), 155. Bailey's Brown-toothed Shrew (Episoriculus baileyi), 156. Long-tailed Brown-toothed Shrew (Episoriculus leucops), 157. Hodgson’s Brown-toothed Shrew (Episoriculus caudatus), 158. Sichuan Brown-toothed Shrew (Episoriculus sacratus), 159. Hidden Brown-toothed Shrew (Episoriculus umbrinus), 160. Nepalese Brown-toothed Shrew (Episoriculus soluensis), 161. Himalayan Shrew (Soriculus nigrescens), 162. De Winton’s Brown-toothed Shrew (Chodsigoa hypsibia), 163. Pygmy Brown-toothed Shrew (Chodsigoa parva), 164. Smith’s Brown-toothed Shrew (Chodsigoa smithii), 165. Salenski’s Brown-toothed Shrew (Chodsigoa salenskii), 166. Dusky Brown-toothed Shrew (Chodsigoa furva), 167. Lesser Taiwanese Brown-toothed Shrew (Chodsigoa sodalis), 168. Van Sung’s Brown-toothed Shrew (Chodsigoa caovansunga), 169. Hoffmann’s Brown-toothed Shrew (Chodsigoa hoffmanni), 170. Lowe’s Brown-toothed Shrew (Chodsigoa parca), 171. Bornean Water Shrew (Chimarrogale phaeura), 172. Sumatran Water Shrew (Chimarrogale sumatrana), 173. Malayan Water Shrew (Chimarrogale hantu), 174. Chinese Water Shrew (Chimarrogale styani), 175. Himalayan Water Shrew (Chimarrogale himalayica), 176. Leander’s Water Shrew (Chimarrogale leander), 177. Japanese Water Shrew (Chimarrogale platycephala), 178. Elegant Water Shrew (Nectogale elegans), 179. Mediterranean Water Shrew (Neomys anomalus), 180. Transcaucasian Water (Shrew Neomysteres), 181. Eurasian Water Shrew (Neomys fodiens)

Subspecies and Distribution. B.c.carolinensisBachman,1837—SEUSA,EoftheMississippiRiver(SIllinois,WKentucky,WTennessee,Mississippi,SELouisiana,SAlabama,SGeorgia,NFlorida,SouthCarolina,ENorthCarolina,andSEVirginia). B. c. minima Lowery, 1943 — SE USA, W of the Mississippi River (SE Missouri, Arkansas, most of Louisiana, and E Texas).