Ruwenzorisorex suncoides
Creators: name: Mittermeier, Russell A.
name: Wilson, Don E.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2018
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Mammalia
Soricomorpha
Soricidae
Ruwenzorisorex
Ruwenzorisorex suncoides

description: 204. Rwenzori Shrew <i>Ruwenzorisorex suncoides</i> <b>French:</b> Pachyure du Rwenzori / <b>German:</b> Ruwenzori-Spitzmaus / <b>Spanish:</b> Musarana de Rwenzori <b>Taxonomy.</b> Sylvisorex suncoides Osgood, 1936, “ Kalongi, western slope of Mount Ruwenzori, Belgain Congo [= DR Congo]. Alt. 7,000 ft. [= 2134 m].” Ruwenzorisorex seems to be close to Sun- cus or possibly Sylvisorex based on genetic data. R. suncoides was originally described as a species of Sylvisorex and was moved to Ruwenzorisorex due to brain morphology and its very distinctive morphology, which is supported now by genetic data. Mono- typic. <b>Distribution.</b> Endemic to the Albertine Rift in E DR Congo, SW Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi. <b>Descriptive notes.</b> Head-body 84-102 mm, tail 55-70 mm, ear 7-8 mm, hindfoot 16-19 mm; weight 18-23 g. The Rwenzori Shrew is large (larger than any Sylvisorex) and semi-aquatic (the only semi-aquatic Crocidurinae), with woolly, waterrepellent fur. Dorsum is blackish gray, flecked with paler gray; individual hairs have slate-gray bases and brown tips; and there are long pale guard hairs on rump. Venter is slate-gray, with hairs with gray bases and pale gray or brownish tips. Vibrissae are well developed, muzzle is swollen, eyes are very small, and ears are small and do not extend past fur. Feet are like those of terrestrial species, with short claws. Tail is c.40% of head-body length, slightly bicolored (dark above and paler below), and lacking long bristle hairs. Skull is elongated and dorsoventrally compressed, with concave profile in lateral view. There are four unicuspids, and fourth is only a little smaller than third. Lower incisors are smooth and without denticulations. Unlike all other crocidurines, the Rwenzori Shrew shares similarities with aquatic shrews in Nectogalini, including their enlarged medulla oblongata, enlarged foramen magnum, and expanded trigeminal nerve system in muzzle, but they do not have altered tails or feet as in other aquatic species. Dental formulais 13/1, C1/1, P2/1,M 3/3(x2)=30. <b>Habitat.</b> Near clear shallow streams in primary montane moist forests at elevations of 1800-2350 m. Ugandan records of the Rwenzori Shrew come from meandering streams going through Brillantaisia (Acanthaceae) swamps, and Burundi records come from streams surrounded by forests of scattered Syzygium (Myrtaceae), Symphonia (Clusiaceae), Arundinaria bamboo, Cyathea tree ferns, and Tabernaemontana (Apocynaceae). <b>Food and Feeding.</b> Rwenzori Shrews have been attracted to animal baits of fish and worms. <b>Breeding.</b> No information. <b>Activity patterns.</b> The Rwenzori Shrew is the only semi-aquatic shrew in Africa. <b>Movements, Home range and Social organization.</b> No information. <b>Status and Conservation.</b> Classified as Vulnerable on The IUCN Red List. The Rwenzori Shrew has a very restricted distribution (area of occupancy is almost certainly less than 2000 km?) and is rare (only known from ten specimens). It is found in multiple nature reserves, including Rwenzori Mountains National Park and Bwindi-Impenetrable Forest National Park in Uganda and Bururi Nature Reserve and Kibira National Park in Burundi. Its biggest threats seem to be coal mining, logging operations, and conversion of natural habitat for agricultural purposes. <b>Bibliography.</b> Hutterer (1986a), Kerbis Peterhans (2013b, 2016), Meegaskumbura et al. (2014), Quérouil et al. (2001).
description: Published as part of <i>Russell A. Mittermeier &amp; Don E. Wilson, 2018, Soricidae, pp. 332-551 in Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 8 Insectivores, Sloths and Colugos, Barcelona :Lynx Edicions</i> on page 466, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6870843