Soricidae
Author
Russell A. Mittermeier
Author
Don E. Wilson
text
2018
2018-07-31
Lynx Edicions
Barcelona
Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 8 Insectivores, Sloths and Colugos
332
551
book chapter
http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6870843
978-84-16728-08-4
6870843
328.
Guramba White-toothed Shrew
Crocidura phaeura
French:
Crocidure du Guramba
/
German:
Guramba-WeiRRzahnspitzmaus
/
Spanish:
Musarana de Guramba
Other common names:
Guramba Shrew
Taxonomy.
Crocidura hildegardeae phaeura Osgood, 1936
,
Mount Guramba (west base)
,
north-east of Allata
,
Sidamo
,
Ethiopia
.
The placement of
C. phaeura
is currently uncertain. It was originally treated as a subspecies of
C. hildegardeae
but is now considered a distinct species. Based on cranial characteristics, it seems to be similar to
C. montis
and
C. fumosa
within the luna-fumosa species complex but it is ap-
parently related to
C. harenna
. Monotypic.
Distribution.
Known only from Mt Guramba and Nachisar National Park, W of the Rift Valley in W Ethiopia.
Descriptive notes.
Head—body 60-80 mm, tail 48-57 mm, ear 8-10 mm, hindfoot 12— 14 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. The Guramba White-toothed Shrew is a small to medium-sized shrew. Dorsal pelage is dark blackish-brown; ventral pelage is slightly paler. Hindfeet are relatively long (18-6% of head-body length). Tail is medium in length (c.53% of head-body length), completely dark blackish brown, and covered in long bristle hairs. Braincase is relatively broad and deep; the second unicuspid is slightly smaller than the third; M? is more robust than in any other species of African
Crocidura
. There are three unicuspids.
Habitat.
Montane and riverine forest along the Ethiopian Rift Valley at elevations of 1100-2400 m.
Food and Feeding.
No information.
Breeding.
No information.
Activity patterns.
Guramba White-toothed Shrews are terrestrial.
Movements, Home range and Social organization.
No information.
Status and Conservation.
Classified as Endangered on The [UCN Red List. The Guramba White-toothed Shrew is considered rare with a very restricted distribution which includes the Nechisar National Park. The species may be threatened by the conversion of land to agricultural use.
Bibliography.
Duckworth et al. (1993), Happold & Yalden (2013b), Heim de Balsac & Meester (1977), Hutterer (1981a), Hutterer & Yalden (1990), Lavrenchenko (2016c), Yalden & Largen (1992), Yalden, Largen & Kock (1976), Yalden, Largen, Kock & Hillman (1996).