Surdisorex schlitteri, Kerbis Peterhans et al., 2009

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

426.

Schlitter’s Mole Shrew

Surdisorex schlitteri

French: Musaraigne de Schlitter / German: Mount-Elgon-Wiihlspitzmaus / Spanish: Musarana topo de Schlitter

Other common names: Mount Elgon Mole Shrew

Taxonomy. Surdisorex schlitteri Kerbis Peterhans et al., 2009 ,

“ Kenya, eastern flank of Mt. Elgon , ericaceous zone at 3,150 m.”

The phylogenetic placement of Surdisorex is uncertain, and genetic data have not yet been implemented. Monotypic.

Distribution. Mt Elgon, WC Kenya.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 84 mm,tail 28-6 mm, hindfoot 16-1 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. Schlitter’s Mole Shrew is a medium-sized shrew with thick woolly hair. Dorsum and venter are dark brown. Ears are nearly absent, and eyes are reduced and covered in a membrane. Tail is short (34% of head-body length), dark, and fully haired with dense dark bristles. Skull is hexagonal with a long rostrum; nuchal crest is well developed and sagittal crestis slight; braincase is small and short. There are three unicuspids.

Habitat. Found in ericaceous shrubland at an elevation of ¢.3150 m.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. Burrows thought to have represented Stuhlmann’s Golden Mole (Chrysochloris stuhlmanni fosteri) are now thought to represent feeding holes probably dug by this species on Mount Elgon.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Data Deficient on The IUCN Red List. Schlitter’s Mole Shrew is only known from the recently collected holotype from the Mount Elgon National Park.

Bibliography. Engelbrektsson (2016f), Kerbis Peterhans et al. (2009), 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. Mt Elgon, WC Kenya.