Shrews (Soricidae) of the Southern Cape

Ludwig Muller, SCHG
ludwigxem@gmail.com

@markheystek @christiaan_viljoen @justinponder2505 @robinthebushmukka @tfrench @milewski @benjamin_walton @colin25 @kfinn @jeremygilmore @lindeq @oliver_c

Abstract
This article deals with all the local shrew species (Soricidae, not Macroscelididae) and how to identify them based on an adult individual in the hand. There has been considerable confusion regarding their identification on iNat and this paper will hopefully change that. I do not pretend to be anything like a shrew expert and if I get anything wrong here please don't hesitate to correct me- I based the entire article (at least, the key and the species accounts) on Smithers & Skinner with a bit of iNat research thrown in. And if the article itself doesn't help you, please look below the relevant species account and check out the references. Enjoy reading ;)

The Garden Route and Klein Karoo hold within their borders five shrew species. They are as follows:

Myosorex varius
M. longicaudatus subsp. longicaudatus
Suncus infinitesimus
Crocidura cyanea
C. flavescens

For the various species accounts, skip down. I here include a quick key to the species themselves.

Key

• 1. Adult <100mm long (including tail)....... *Suncus infinitesimus*
  -Adult >110mm long with tail....... 2

• 2. Tail lacking long basal hairs....... 4
  -Long hairs present on the basal section of tail....... 3

• 3. Adult >15g....... Crocidura flavescens
  -Adult <15g....... C. cyanea

• 4. Tail bicoloured, <50% of overall body length....... Myosorex varius
  -Tail unicoloured, btwn. 70-75% of overall body length....... M. longicaudatus

Species accounts
(Unique features in italics)

Order: Eulipotyphla
Family: Soricidae
Subfamily: Myosoricinae
Genus: Myosorex
Species: M. longicaudatus
Subspecies: M. longicaudatus subsp. longicaudatus

Myosorex longicaudatus Meester & Dippenaar 1978
Langstert bos- skeerbek
Description: Tail long, basally thick, semi prehensile, more or less 75% of head and body length, blackish- brown above with paler underside. Total length (TL, incl. tail): +/- 15cm. Upper body dark blackish- brown, underside slightly paler and tinged brown with no clear line of demarcation between the two shades. Feet brown to blackish- brown above.
Diet: Apparently feeds extensively on seeds.
Habitat: Found in forest and in the ecotone between forest and fynbos.
Notes: Very rare, known from under 7 locations worldwide. The only mammal species genuinely endemic to the Southern Cape.
Specific references: Meester et al. 1986
https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=709986#null
https://academic.oup.com/jmammal/article-abstract/76/4/1071/895174?redirectedFrom=fulltext
https://agris.fao.org/agris-search/search.do?recordID=US201800121834
https://gorongosa.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/taylor_2013_zoj12083.pdf
https://zenodo.org/record/6870551#.Y5M2Rn1By70

Myosorex varius Smuts 1832
Bos- skeerbek
Description: Tail dark brown on upper surface and paler below. TL: +/- 12cm, weight +/- 15g. Upper parts of body dark brown to greyish- brown, feet paler than the upper parts.
Diet: Insects, carrion, mince and rarely gastropods.
Habitat: Moist, densely vegetated areas to dry coastal mountains with continuous cover of low bushes and frequent mists. Often along streams.
Behaviour: Mainly nocturnal. Aggressive.
Specific references: Goulden & Meester 1978
https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=633717#null
http://eswatininaturereserves.com/mammals/redlist/2016MammalRedListForest-Shrew-Myosorex-varius_LC.pdf
https://agris.fao.org/agris-search/search.do?recordID=US201800121834
https://gorongosa.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/taylor_2013_zoj12083.pdf

Subfamily: Crocidurinae
Genera: Suncus & Crocidura

Suncus infinitesimus Heller 1912 subsp. chriseos Kershaw 1921
Kleinste dwergskeerbek
Description: Tail brown above and paler below. TL +/- 8cm, weight 3-4g. Upper body dark greyish- brown, underparts greyish with an area of integration existing between the upper and lower colours. Feet lighter than the upper body.
Diet: Insectivorous
Habitat: Forests. Known from moribund termitaria, which hints at occurrence in grassy areas?
Behaviour: Solitary, terrestrial, diurnal, crepuscular and nocturnal.
Specific references: Rautenbach 1978
https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=633729#null
http://eswatininaturereserves.com/mammals/redlist/2016MammalRedListLeast-Dwarf-Shrew-Suncus-infinitesimus_LC.pdf

Crocidura cyanea Duvernoy 1838
Rooigrys skeerbek
Description: Tail +/- 65% of total head and body length, paler below and darker above- the two colours intergrade along the midline. Distinctive long hairs present on basal section of tail. TL +/- 13cm, weight 8-9g. Upper body grey with reddish- brown to reddish wash. Slightly grizzled with fawn. Underparts paler and greyer with less fawn tinging. Feet lighter above than the upper body.
Diet: Insectivorous
Habitat: Generalist: Found in rocky areas, dense scrub, grass, damp places, farm hedges, montane forest, along streams, in wet vleis, fynbos and karroid scrub, often in association with rocks.
Behaviour: Sporadically active throughout the 24hr period.
Specific references: Meester 1963
https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=633575#null
http://eswatininaturereserves.com/mammals/redlist/2016MammalRedListReddish-grey-Musk-Shrew-Crocidura-cyanea_LC.pdf

Crocidura flavescens Geoffroy 1827
Groter skeerbek
Description: Tail +/- 6cm, upper tail the same colour as upper body, underside paler. Upper parts +/- cinnamon- brown. In lighter specimens the underparts tend to be whitish, while darker specimens have more yellow underneath. The lighter colour of the underparts often extends onto the flanks.
Diet: Insectivorous with carnivorous tendencies. Has been recorded feeding on mouse.
Habitat: Confined to areas with +/- 50- 75cm rainfall p.a. Found in broken or mountainous country with dense vegetation cover, in damp places on the forest edge or in low stands of fern, in vleis or on stream banks.
Behaviour: Active throughout the 24hr period.
Specific references: Roberts 1951 and Meester 1963
https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=633587#null
http://eswatininaturereserves.com/mammals/redlist/2016MammalRedListGreater-Red-Musk-Shrew-Crocidura-flavescens_LC.pdf

Posted on Δεκέμβριος 09, 2022 0122 ΜΜ by ludwig_muller