Multilocus phylogeny and morphological analyses illuminate overlooked diversity of Soriculus (Mammalia: Eulipotyphla: Soricidae), with descriptions of two new endemic species from the eastern Himalayas Author Chen, Zhongzheng Collaborative Innovation Center of Recovery and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystem in Wanjiang Basin Co-founded by Anhui Province and Ministry of Education, School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, Anhui 241002, China & State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution & Yunnan Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Ecological Conservation of Gaoligong Mountain, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650204, China jiangxl@mail.kiz.ac.cn. Author Pei, Xiaoxin Collaborative Innovation Center of Recovery and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystem in Wanjiang Basin Co-founded by Anhui Province and Ministry of Education, School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, Anhui 241002, China & State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution & Yunnan Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Ecological Conservation of Gaoligong Mountain, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650204, China Author Hu, Jiangxiao Collaborative Innovation Center of Recovery and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystem in Wanjiang Basin Co-founded by Anhui Province and Ministry of Education, School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, Anhui 241002, China Author Song, Wenyu Institute of Pathogens and Vectors, Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention, Dali University, Dali, Yunnan 671000, China Author Khanal, Laxman Central Department of Zoology, Institute of Science and Technology, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu 44618, Nepal Author Li, Quan State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution & Yunnan Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Ecological Conservation of Gaoligong Mountain, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650204, China Author Jiang, Xuelong State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution & Yunnan Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Ecological Conservation of Gaoligong Mountain, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650204, China jiangxl@mail.kiz.ac.cn. text Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 2024 2023-09-28 201 2 534 548 http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad131 journal article 301433 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad131 90f9b8f2-6311-48e8-a1a0-38f6e0ea6e46 0024-4082 13219976 0EE61D6-B54D-42E8-9EA1-82E505AAF6F2Corresponding Soriculus nigrescens ( Gray, 1842 ) ( Table 1 ) Corsira nigrescens Gray, 1842: 261 . Type locality: Darjeeling , India . Soriculus nigrescens pahari Hinton, 1922: 1053 . Type locality: Gnatong , Sikkim . Soriculus nigrescens caurinus Hinton, 1922: 1054 . Type locality: Kumaon , India . Soriculus nigrescens centralis Hinton, 1922: 1054 . Type locality: Bouzini , Nepal . Suggested common name: Himalayan shrew; kmŧDzẽē . Type locality: Darjeeling, India Remarks: Sizeisthelargestinthegenus Soriculus (W = 17.6 ± 2.5 g , HB = 89 ± 3 mm ; Table 1 ). Dorsal pelage colour varies from brown to black, ventral paler (Supporting Information, Fig. S2 ). Tail is not sharply bicolored. Most individuals have a tail length ≤ 50 mm , averaging 52% of head and body length. Foreclaws are enlarged. The skull is broad, with the widest maxillary region in the genus ( Fig. 6 ). Braincase is flattened, and the posterior of the skull is angular rather than rounded. The basioccipitalbasisphenoid of S. nigrescens is well developed. The first upper incisor is small and the apex is straight downwards. There are four upper unicuspids; U 2 is the largest, whereas U 4 is minute. M 3 is reduced. The tips of teeth are slightly pigmented with orange or light red. Figure 5. Estimated divergence times of the genus Soriculus using BEAST. Comments: Soriculus nigrescens caurinus , S. n. centralis , and S. n. pahari were described as subspecies of S. nigrescens ( Hinton 1922 ) , but all of them were then considered as synonyms of S. n. nigrescens ( Mitchell 1977 , Hoffmann 1985 ). We examined the photos of type specimens (Supporting Information, Fig. S3 ) of the three forms, which show similar cranial features to S. nigrescens but distinct from the two new species (i.e. Soriculus sp. 1 and Soriculus sp. 2 ) we described below. First, the broader maxillary region and more robust teeth of S. n. caurinus , S. n. centralis , and S. n. pahari are corresponding to those in S. nigrescens , but distinguished from Soriculus sp. 1 (e.g. M 2 M 2 = 6.9 mm in caurinus; M 2 M 2 = 6.8 mm in centralis ; M 2 M 2 = 6.9 mm in pahari ; M 2 M 2 = 6.3 ± 0.1 mm , range 6.0– 6.6 mm in Soriculus sp. 1 ; Table 1 ). The coronoid process of the three forms is similar to that of S. nigrescens , but much shorter than that of Soriculus sp. 2 (e.g. HCP = 5.6 mm in caurinus ; HCP = 5.9 mm in centralis ; HCP = 5.9 mm in pahari ; HCP = 6.7 ± 0.1 mm , range 6.6–6.9 in Soriculus sp. 2 ; Table 1 ). Second, according to the measurements provided by Hinton (1922) , the tail length of three subspecies (TL ≤ 48 mm ) is similar to S. nigrescens (normally < 50 mm ) but shorter than the two new species (normally> 50 mm ). Third, the two new species are restricted to the eastern Himalayas and are geographically distinct from the three subspecies (within the range of S. nigrescens ). We therefore place them as synonyms of S. nigrescens . The pelage of the three forms is lighter and browner than the black coloured specimens collected in China , indicating a variation in colour of this species ( Mitchell 1977 ). Distribution: The species has a wide distribution in the southern Himalayas, from Nepal through northern India ( Uttarakhand , West Bengal , and Sikkim ), Bhutan , northern Myanmar to southern Tibet (Medog, Chayu, Milin, Yadong, Nielamu, and Dingri), China . According to the distribution range, records from Nepal and northern India (see Jenkins 2013 ) are likely to be of this species. It occupies a wide elevation range from 700 m to 4500 m a.s.l. In Medog county, most of the individuals occur at elevations below 1450 m a.s.l.