Crocidura sicula, G. S. Miller, 1901
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https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.6870843 |
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DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6870281 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/3D474A54-A047-872B-FF05-A76914E5F55A |
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Felipe |
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scientific name |
Crocidura sicula |
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Sicilian White-toothed Shrew
French: Crocidure de Sicile / German: Sizilien-Spitzmaus / Spanish: Musarana de Sicilia
Other common names: Sicilian Shrew
Taxonomy. Crocidura sicula G. S. Miller, 1901 View in CoL ,
Palermo , Sicilia, Italy.
Formerly shrews from Sicily were included in one or other of the widespread species leucodon , russula , or suaveolens , but Sicilian animals differ from those species in morphological characters and a distinct karyotype of 2n = 36. C. canariensis has the same karyotype as C. sicula and was treated as a race of sicula by M. Sara in 1995, but
the two can be separated by cranial marks, dentition, pelage color and mitochondrial differences. In 1901, G. S. Miller described two species from Sicily which could be separated by differences in tail length and skull size. However, P. Vogel and others in 1989 proved that both types belong to the same species and so caudata is now regarded as synonymous with sicula . Molecular studies by S. Dubey and colleagues in 2008, and Vogel and others in 2003 and 2006, support the 1991 proposal of R. Hutterer that sicula originated from a North African ancestor and thatit is the sister taxon to the clade formed by canariensis of the Canary Islands and tarfayensis of North Africa. The large subspecies esuae named by T. Kotsakis in 1986 lived on Sicily and Malta in the Pleistocene but is extinct; it might also represent a direct ancestor of the type subspecies, sicula . Three subspecies recognized, but the separation of subspecies is questioned by Sara in 1995.
Subspecies and Distribution.
C.s.siculaG.S.Miller,1901—SicilyandUsticaI,Italy.
C.s.aegatensisHutterer,1991—EgadiIs(Favignana,Levanzo,andMarettimo),Italy.
C. s. calypso Hutterer, 1991 — Gozo and possibly Comino Is (records from northern long-eared owl, Asio otus, pellets), Malta. Population on Malta I may also be referred to this subspecies, but probably extinct. View Figure
Descriptive notes. Head-body 50-79 mm, tail 28-45 mm, ear 6-10-5 mm, hindfoot 11-13-5 mm; weight 4-10-5 g. There are minor differencesin size between several populations. Races aegatensisand calypsoare smaller than the nominate and can be differentiated by genetic marks and morphological average values (e.g. body length, weight, mandible biometry); shrews from smaller islands are mostly shorter. Dorsal pelage is gray-brown and ventral whitish gray to white, with a clear dividing line on the flanks. Tail is distinctly bicolored, and usually has a white spot at the tip. Foreand hindfeet are whitish, or on Gozo bright white. Young animals are richer in color contrast than older individuals. The population from Ustica is melanistic with dark gray-brown to gray-black fur, without the white spot on the tail; this might be an adaptation to the volcanic environment. Tips of the second and third upper unicuspid are usually in line with the tip ofthe massive, brick-like parastyle of the upper premolar. In race aegatensis M* is more reduced than the molars of other races. Skull is similar to that of the Greater White-toothed Shrew (C. russula ) but with a slender rostrum. Condylo-incisive length 18-4-20-4 mm.
Habitat. The Sicilian White-toothed Shrew has unspecialized requirements and occurs from sea level up to 1000 m. It occupies open forest, scrubland and margins of agricultural areas, and suburban settlements. The species prefers humid localities, especially in summer.
Food and Feeding. The diet consists of invertebrates: mainly insects (especially caterpillars and beetles), millipedes, earthworms, and snails.
Breeding. Females give birth to 3-9 young perlitter. The Sicilian White-toothed Shrew can reach an age of 12-18 months in the wild.
Activity patterns. Sicilian White-toothed Shrews are terrestrial and both nocturnal and diurnal. The species has the ability to lapse into torpor.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. There are high seasonal fluctuations in the population size, with low numbers in summer (May to September) and high numbers in the winter.
Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Sicilian White-toothed Shrew is a widely distributed species in Sicily, but at a much lower density than other Crocidura species on Mediterranean islands. The current population trend is unknown. On Malta it is probably extinct. Pesticides in agricultural areas are a moderate threat. Populations on small islands may suffer predation by domestic cats. It is protected under Appendix III of the Bern Convention but there are no further specific conservation actions.
Bibliography. Aloise et al. (2011), Amori (2016), Aulagnier et al. (2008), Contoli et al. (1989), Dubey, Koyasu et al. (2008), van der Geer et al. (2010), Grimmberger (2009b), Hutterer (1991, 2005b), Kotsakis (1986), Maddalena et al. (1990), Miller (1901), Sara (1995), Sara & Vitturi (1996), Sara, Aiuto & Cognetti (1997), Sara, Lo Valo & Zanca (1990), Vesmanis (1976), Vogel (1988, 1999a), Vogel, Cosson & Lopez (2003), Vogel, Hutterer & Sara (1989), Vogel, Mehmeti et al. (2006).
No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.
