Congosorex phillipsorum, Stanley, Rogers & Hutterer, 2005

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 : 545-546

427.

Phillips's Congo Shrew

Congosorex phillipsorum

French: Musaraigne des Udzungwa / German: Phillips-Kongo-Spitzmaus / Spanish: Musarana del Congo de Phillips

Taxonomy. Congosorex phillipsorum Stanley, Rogers & Hutterer, 2005 ,

“ 9 km E Udekwa, Ndundulu Forest , West Kilombero Scarp Forest Reserve , Udzungwa Mountains , Oringa District, Iringa Region, Tanzania; 7°45.117°S, 36°27.803°E, 1900 m.”

Congosorex seems to be imbedded within Myosorex , indicating that a revision of the entire subfamily Myosoricinae is needed. Monotypic.

Distribution. Ndundulu and Nyumbanitu

forests in the Udzungwa Mts, C Tanzania.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 68-76 mm, tail 35-40 mm, ear 7-8 mm, hindfoot 12-14 mm; weight 7-4-8-3 g. Phillips’s Congo Shrew is a medium-sized, robust shrew with a relatively large head. Dorsal pelage is dark brown, the hairsslate gray with dark brown tips; ventral pelage is slightly paler, hairs slate gray with brown tips. Ears are barely visible and covered with long hairs; feet are covered in conspicuous dark scales. Tail is medium-length (55-60% of head-body length) and bicolored, being dark brown dorsally and paler ventrally. Males have a pointed phallus. Skull has a short rostrum compared to other shrews and the braincase is wide. There are three unicuspids. Dental formula for all members of the genusis 13/2, C1/0,P 1/1,M 3/3 (x2) = 28.

Habitat. Found in undisturbed and slightly disturbed montane forests, with moistsoil, at elevations of 1500-2086 m. Phillips's Congo Shrews have also been recorded in bamboo forests and marshy habitats.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. Phillips's Congo Shrews are terrestrial and primarily nocturnal, although they can also be found during the day.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Critically Endangered on The IUCN Red List. Phillips’s Congo Shrew has a very small range within which suitable habitats are declining. Populations of this species seem to be fragmented due to habitat loss. It may be present in the Udzungwa Mountains National Park.

Bibliography. Kennerley (2016u), Stanley (2013a), Stanley, Rogers & Hutterer (2005b), Willows-Munro & Matthee (2009).

Figures

424. Aberdare Mole Shrew (Surdisorex norae), 425. Mount Kenya Mole Shrew (Surdisorex polulus), 426. Schlitter’s Mole Shrew (Surdisorex schlitteri), 427. Phillips's Congo Shrew (Congosorex phillipsorum), 428. Greater Congo Shrew (Congosorex polli), 429. Lesser Congo Shrew (Congosorex verheyeni), 430. Meester’s Mouse Shrew (Myosorex meester), 431. Dark-footed Mouse Shrew (Myosorex cafer), 432. Sclater’s Mouse Shrew (Myosorex sclateri), 433. Thin Mouse Shrew (Mpyosorex tenuis), 434. South African Mouse Shrew (Myosorex varius), 435. Long-tailed Mouse Shrew (Myosorex longicaudatus), 436. Kilimanjaro Mouse Shrew (Myosorex zinki), 437. Geata Mouse Shrew (Myosorex geata), 438. Kihaule’s Mouse Shrew (Myosorex kihaulei), 439. Nyika Mouse Shrew (Myosorex gnoskei), 440. Schaller’s Mouse Shrew (Myosorex schalleri), 441. Kabogo Mouse Shrew (Myosorex kabogoensis), 442. Babault’ ' s Mouse Shrew (Mpyosorex babaultu), 443. Montane Mouse Shrew (Myosorex blarina), 444. Bururt Mouse Shrew (Myosorex bururiensis), 445. Kahuzi Mouse Shrew (Myosorex jejer), 446. Eisentraut’s Mouse Shrew (Myosorex eisentrauti), 447. Rumpi Mouse Shrew (Myosorex rumpii), 448. Oku Mouse Shrew (Myosorex okuensis)

Distribution. Ndundulu and Nyumbanitu forests in the Udzungwa Mts, C Tanzania.