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

description: 203. Climbing Shrew <i>Suncus megalurus</i> <b>French:</b> Pachyure grimpeuse / <b>German:</b> Langschwanz-Wimperspitzmaus / <b>Spanish:</b> Musarana trepadora <b>Other common names:</b> Climbing Dwarf Shrew <b>Taxonomy.</b> Pachyura megalura Jentink, 1888, Schlieffelinsville, Junk River, Liberia. Widely used specific name megalura has been changed for gender agreement. The seven species of endemically African Suncus seem to be more closely related to Sylvisorex than to other species of Suncus. They might be better placed in Sylvisorex but are retained within Suncus here until additional research is conducted. Suncus megalurus itself was generally included in Sylvisorex until genetic data found it to be closer to species of African Suncus, although more recent phylogenetic studies show that S. megalurus might be more related to some species of Sylvisorex (namely S. olullae) than to African species of Suncus. Monotypic. <b>Distribution.</b> Throughout sub-Saharan Africa from Guinea E to W Kenya and S to C Mozambique and C Angola, as well as an isolated region of W Ethiopia. <b>Descriptive notes.</b> Head-body 50-65 mm, tail 82-97 mm, ear 6-10 mm, hindfoot 14-17 mm; weight 3-8 g. The Climbing Shrew is small. Dorsum is grayish, with brown tinge (hairs gray with brown tips); venter is whitish to pale buff (hairs gray with buff or white tips); and fur is soft and moderately dense. Sides can either be similar to dorsal pelage or grayer, fading into ventral pelage. Head is slender; muzzle is long, narrow, and pointed; eyes are small; and ears are relatively large and rounded. Feet are brown, slender, and longer than in other congenerics. Tail is ¢.118% of head-body length, thin, covered with tiny dark bristles, and bicolored, being dark brown above and pale buff below. Females have three inguinal mammae. There are four unicuspids, and fourth is very small; teeth are unpigmented white. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 48 and FN = 96. <b>Habitat.</b> Various forest and savanna habitats throughout sub-Saharan Africa, such as lowland and montane tropical moist forests, forest edge, and moist savanna habitats at elevations of 1600-1900 m (uncommonly at higher elevations). <b>Food and Feeding.</b> The Climbing Shrew is insectivorous and eats various invertebrates including grasshoppers and centipedes. <b>Breeding.</b> Reproductively active female Climbing Shrews have been captured in March, June, August, and November. Litters average 1-8 young. <b>Activity patterns.</b> The Climbing Shrew is scansorial (evident by its very long tail) and is known to use its tail and hindfeet to hold itself while stretching between branches. A nest in Zimbabwe was spherical, made of broad-leafed grasses, and placed 1 m above the ground in branches of a bush. <b>Movements, Home range and Social organization.</b> No Information. <b>Status and Conservation.</b> Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Climbing Shrew is widespread and relatively common throughoutits distribution, with no major threats. <b>Bibliography.</b> Baxter &amp; Dippenaar (2013]), Churchfield et al. (2004), Dieterlen &amp; Heim de Balsac (1979), Dubey, Salamin, Ohdachi et al. (2007), Dubey, Salamin, Ruedi et al. (2008), Meylan (1975), Quérouil et al. (2001), Vogel (1974).
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