Feroculus feroculus
TAXONOMY
Feroculus feroculus (Kelaart, 1850), central mountains, Sri Lanka, at altitude of 6,000 ft (2,000 m). Initially, this species was identified as a water shrew; more recently identified as a separate species (semi-fossorial).
OTHER COMMON NAMES
French: Pachyure aux longues griffes; German: Kelaarts Langkrallenspitzmaus.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Head and body length 4.2–4.7 in (10.6–11.8 cm); tail 2.2–2.9 in (5.6–7.3 cm); 1.2–1.3 oz (35–37 g). Known from only a few specimens. The back is slate black, underside is lighter, dark tail with a few whitish hairs at the tip and some individual long hairs, and the forefeet are off-white. It has 30 completely white teeth.
DISTRIBUTION
Endemic to central mountains of Sri Lanka.
HABITAT
Observed among weeds and other dense undergrowth in wet ravines. Primarily along hillsides of the central mountains of Sri Lanka. It appears to be confined to valleys and slopes of the central mountain range of Sri Lanka at elevations between 5,550 and 6,450 ft (1,850–2,150 m).
BEHAVIOR
Very little is known about the behavior of this species.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Feeds on invertebrates, vertebrates and plant material.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Nothing is known.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Endangered. Decline of this species may be due to encroachment of humans on its limited habitat.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
None known.
| Common name / Scientific name / Other common names | Physical characteristics | Habitat and behavior | Distribution | Diet | Conservation status |
| Poll's shrew Congosorex polli | Buffy, fawn, or shades of brown, gray, or black. Coat appears speckled due to light hairs interspersed with dark hairs. May have gray feet. Head and body length 2.4–4.3 in (6–11 cm), tail length 0.9–2.6 in (2.4–6.7 cm). | Moist areas, especially forests or scrub and the dense vegetation lining the banks of mountain streams. Generally solitary, except during breeding season. | Known only from type locality in southern Democratic Republic of the Congo (Zaire). | Mainly insects, but may also eat small birds and mammals. | Critically Endangered |
| Gray shrew Crocidura attenuata English: Indochinese shrew | Light brownish gray on upperparts, pale gray on underparts. Underside is faintly tinged with brown. Tail is dark above and light below. Backs of feet are thinly covered with short, pale hairs. | Variety of habitats, from seedling rice fields to cut-down forest-farmlands of weeds and grass. Solitary, except during breeding season. | Assam, India; Nepal; Bhutan; Burma; Thailand; Vietnam; Hainan, China; Taiwan; Peninsular Malaysia; Sumatra; Java; Christmas Islands (Indian Ocean); and Batan Islands, Philippines. | Mainly insects, but may also eat small birds and mammals. | Not threatened |
| Canary shrew Crocidura canariensis Spanish: Musarana canaria | Uniform chocolate brown. Head and body length 1.6–4.3 in (4–11 cm). Tail is long and covered with long, white and short, bristly hairs. Foreclaws are not enlarged. | Malpais (barren lava fields), as the species has adapted to the hot and dry conditions of the plains. Very shy animals, little known of reproductive cycles. Very low litter sizes. | Canary Islands, Spain. | Mainly insects. | Vulnerable |
| Dsinezumi shrew Crocidura dsinezumi | During winter pelage is pale gray to brown, summer, pelage is usually dark brown. Under parts are lighter. Head and body length 2.6–3.1 in (6.5–8 cm), tail length usually less than 70% of head and body length. | Along river banks and in the foothills with dense vegetation. Generally solitary, except during breeding season. | Japan; Quelpart Islands, Korea; and possibly Taiwan. | Insects and spiders. | Not threatened |
| Southeast Asian shrew Crocidura fuliginosa | Dark gray to blackish with a dull, silvery gloss. Underparts are lighter, tail is thin with a few, faint, white hairs. Ears are naked and prominent, eyes are small, feet covered with a few, short white hairs. | Various habitats from montane to lowland forest, cultivated areas, and even caves. Solitary, except during breeding season. | Northern India, Myanmar, adjacent China, Malaysian Peninsula and adjacent islands; perhaps also Borneo, Sumatra and Java; exact distribution unknown. | Mainly insects. | Not threatened |
| Horsfield's shrew Crocidura horsfieldii | Upperparts are neutral gray with bottom portions of hairs brown. Underside is dark gray. Tail is paler above than beneath. | Intermediate montane from 4,000 to 6,960 ft (1,220–2,120 m) in areas of fairly heavy cover. Solitary, except during breeding season. | Sri Lanka; northern Thailand to Vietnam; Nepal; Mysore and Ladak, India; Yunnan, Fukien, and Hainan Islands, China; Taiwan; and Ryukyu Islands, Japan. | Mainly insects. | Not threatened |
| Lesser white-toothed shrew Crocidura suaveolens English: Lesser shrew | Reddish gray above, slightly lighter underside. Ears are short-haired and prominent, tail is covered with fine, long, white hairs. Tail length 0.9–1.7 in (2.4–4.4 cm), head and body length 2–3 in (5–7.5 cm). | Temperate woodlands and steppe. Generally solitary, not highly territorial, breeding season extends from March to September. | Entire Palearctic from Spain to Korea; Atlantic islands (Scilly, Jersey, Sark, Ushant, Yeu); many Mediterranean islands including Corsica, Crete, Cyprus, and Menorca; and Tsushima and Ullong Do between Korea and Japan. | Mainly insects. | Not threatened |
| Schaller's mouse shrew Myosorex schalleri | Buffy, fawn, or shades of brown, gray, or black. Underparts of hairs are brown, giving speckled effect. Head and body length 2.4–4.3 in (6–11 cm), tail length 6–2.6 in (2.4–6.7 cm). | Moist areas, especially forests or scrub and the dense vegetati on lining the banks of mountain streams. Generally solitary, except during breeding season. | Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (Zaire), Itombwe Mountains, "Nzombe (Mwenga)". | Mainly insects, but will also eat small birds and mammals. | Critically Endangered |
| Greater shrew Paracrocidura maxima | Short, large snout, short and visible ears, short limbs and claws. Body covered in thin, short, ashy black or dark brown hair, tail is black. Head and body length 2.6–3.8 in (6.5–9.6 cm), tail length 1.3–1.8 in (3.3–4.6 cm). | Rainforests at elevations of about 660–7,710 ft (200–2,350 m). Terrestrial. | Democratic Republic of the Congo (Zaire), Rwanda, and Uganda. | Mainly insects. | Not threatened |
| Common name / Scientific name / Other common names | Physical characteristics | Habitat and behavior | Distribution | Diet | Conservation status |
| Grauer's shrew Paracrocidura graueri | Short, large snout, short and visible ears, short limbs and claws. Body covered in thin, short, ashy black or dark brown hair, tail is black. Head and body length 2.6–3.8 in (6.5–9.6 cm), tail length 1.3–1.8 in (3.3–4.6 cm). | Rainforests at elevations of about 660–7,710 ft (200–2,350 m). Terrestrial. | Itombwe Mountains, Democratic Republic of the Congo (Zaire). | Mainly insects. | Critically Endangered |
| Aberdare shrew Surdisorex norae | Pelage is deep lustrous brown with pale frosting, under parts are paler and buffier. Tail is dark brown above and below. Fur is long, dense, and coarse. Head and body length 2.3–4.3 in (6–11 cm), tail length 0.9–2.6 in (2.4–6.7 cm). | Moss and heather cloud forests of the Kenyan mountains, at altitudes of 9,190–10,830 ft (2,800–3,300 m). Active both day and night. Stay mainly in burrow systems. | Aberdare Range, Kenya. | Mainly insects, but will also eat small mammals and birds. | Vulnerable |
| Mt. Kenya shrew Surdisorex polulus | Pelage is deep lustrous brown with pale frosting, under parts are paler and buffier. Tail is dark brown above and below. Fur is long, dense, and coarse. Head and body length 2.3–4.3 in (6–11 cm), tail length 0.9–2.6 in (2.4–6.7 cm). | Moss and heather cloud forests of the Kenyan mountains, at altitudes of 9,190–10,830 ft (2,800–3,300 m). Active both day and night. Stay mainly in burrow systems. | Mount Kenya, Kenya. | Mainly insects, but will also eat small mammals and birds. | Vulnerable |
| Volcano shrew Sylvisorex vulcanorum | Upperparts generally slaty gray, underparts are paler. Fur is soft and velvety. Head and body length 1.8–3.9 in (4.5–10 cm), tail length 1.6–2.6 in (4–6.5 cm). | Deep forest, as well as in grassy areas well away from trees. Arboreal, terrestrial, both diurnal and nocturnal. Solitary. | High altitude rainforest of eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (Zaire), Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi | Mostly insects taken through foraging. | Not threatened |
| Sunda shrew Crocidura monticola | Body uniform dull gray-brown. Tail paler with sparse, long, pale hair at the base, usually extending over 0.3 in (l cm) along the tail. Head and body length 1.6–7.1 in (4–18 cm), tail length 1.6–4.3 in (4–11 cm). | Damp and dry forests, grassland, cultivated areas, and occasionally human settlements and buildings. Aggressive. Litter size ranges from one to 10 offspring. | Borneo, Java, and Peninsular Malaysia. | Invertebrates and freshly killed animals. | Not threatened |
| Negros shrew Crocidura negrina | Small animal with long, slender tail. Pelage is dark, blackish, tinged with gray on upper parts. Underparts are dark brown with white spots. | This species has only been recorded from Cuernos de Negros mountain, Negros Island, the Philippines at an altitude range of 1,640–4,760 ft (500–1,450 m). Aggressive. Litter size ranges from one to 10 offspring. Solitary, except during breeding season. | Primary forest at 1,640–4,760 ft (500–1,450 m) on southern Negros Island, Philippines. | Mainly insects, invertebrates, and freshly killed animals. | Critically Endangered |
