Sorex antinorn, Bonaparte, 1840

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 : 401

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.6870843

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6869611

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/3D474A54-A020-874C-FFF5-A940138AF7F3

treatment provided by

Felipe

scientific name

Sorex antinorn
status

 

18. View Plate 15: Soricidae

Valais Shrew

Sorex antinorn

French: Musaraigne du Valais / German: Valais-Spitzmaus / Spanish: Musarana de Valais

Taxonomy. Sorex antinori Bonaparte, 1840 , no type locality given. Restricted by E. von Lehmann in 1963 to Porlezza, Lago di Lugano, Lombardia, northern Italy. Initially, S. antinori was considered as one of the chromosomal races of S. araneus View in CoL (Valais race), but it is karyologically, morphologically, biochemically, and genetically distinct from all other chromosomal races. Therefore, chromosome race Valais of S. araneus View in CoL herein is elevated to specific status, and the name S. antinorii is applied. Evidence from mtDNA and nDNA sequences classifies S. antinori in the araneus View in CoL group. The taxon S. arunchi, previously recognized as a distinct species in north-eastern Italy, is included under S. antinorii based on recent genetic data showing that they are synonymous. Monotypic.

Distribution. Switzerland, SE France, and Italy. View Figure

Descriptive notes. Head-body 55-82 mm (immatures 55-77 mm), tail 40-55 mm, hindfoot 11-13 mm; weight 5-7-13 g (immatures 5-7-8-7 g). Greater weights are possible for pregnant Valais Shrews. Pelage is tricolored. Back varies from light brown to dark brown, sides are red tinted brownish, and belly is light gray. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 24/25 and FN = 40. Trivalent of sex chromosomes consists of a large metacentric X-chromosome, small acrocentric Y-chromosome, and medium-sized acrocentric Y,chromosome. There are 14 metacentric and eight acrocentric autosomes.

Habitat. Mountain coniferous—broad-leaved forests of the Alps and Apennines.

Food and Feeding. Diet of the Valais Shrew is similar to that of the Common Shrew ( S. araneus ), with which it is parapatrically distributed. Earthworms, mollusks, harvestmen (shepherd spiders), spiders, beetles, and dipteran larvae are eaten in equal proportions.

Breeding. A female Valais Shrew produces 2-3 litters/breeding season. Litters have 5-7 young.

Activity patterns. No information.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Data Deficient on The IUCN Red List. The Valais Shrew is common wherever it lives, but it is poorly known. More data are required to assess its conservation status.

Bibliography. Basset et al. (2006), Brinner et al. (2002), Hausser et al. (1990), von Lehmann (1963), Sheftel et al. (2018), Yannic et al. (2012).

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Mammalia

Order

Soricomorpha

Family

Soricidae

Genus

Sorex

Loc

Sorex antinorn

Russell A. Mittermeier & Don E. Wilson 2018
2018
Loc

Sorex antinori

Bonaparte 1840
1840
Loc

S. araneus

Linnaeus 1758
1758
Loc

S. araneus

Linnaeus 1758
1758
Loc

araneus

Linnaeus 1758
1758
GBIF Dataset (for parent article) Darwin Core Archive (for parent article) View in SIBiLS Plain XML RDF