Surdisorex norae, Thomas, 1906

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

424.

Aberdare Mole Shrew

Surdisorex norae

French: Musaraigne de Nora / German: Aberdare-Wiihlspitzmaus / Spanish: Musarana topo de Aberdare

Other common names: Aberdare Shrew

Taxonomy. Surdisorex norae Thomas, 1906 ,

“ East side of the Aberdare range , near Nyeri, British East Africa [= Kenya].”

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

Distribution. Aberdare Range, C Kenya.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 82-110 mm, tail 20-35 mm, ear 6-7-7-3 mm, hindfoot 14-17-5 mm; weight 22.5-27-5 g. The Aberdare Mole Shrew is a large molelike shrew with thick, dense pelage that has a velvety texture. Head is broad with a pointed muzzle. Dorsal and ventral pelage is dark chocolate brown. Eyes are small and hidden under the pelage; ears are extremely short. Forefeet are broad with long claws and hindfeet are short with pale claws. Tail is short (c.30% of head-body length), black, and covered in dense short black bristles. Females have three inguinal nipples. Skull is elongate with a wide braincase. There are three unicuspids. Dental formula for all members ofthis genusis13/2,C1/0,P 1/1, M 3/3 (x2) = 28.

Habitat. Swamps in moorlands at elevations of 2700-3350 m.

Food and Feeding. Aberdare Mole Shrews feed on earthworms, primarily by biting them into small pieces and swallowing the pieces whole. They may dig for their prey, as small 1-2 cm deep diametervertical holes have been reported in their habitat.

Breeding. One pregnant female was captured in October, with a single embryo.

Activity patterns. Aberdare Mole Shrews are active both day and night. They travel and forage along runways on the soil’s surface, rummaging through leaf litter and grass. Although they have mole-like forefeet, they are unlikely to excavate subterranean burrows, but the form of the forefeet probably helps when digging for food while foraging.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Aberdare Mole Shrew is very rare and known from very few specimens within a restricted range. Its habitatis considerably fragmented.

Bibliography. Duncan & Wrangham (1971), Happold (2013m), Kennerley (2016ab), 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. Aberdare Range, C Kenya.