Sorex ornatus Merriam 1895
Creators: name: Mittermeier, Russell A.
name: Wilson, Don E.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2018
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Mammalia
Soricomorpha
Soricidae
Sorex
Sorex ornatus

description: 76. Ornate Shrew <i>Sorex ornatus</i> <b>French:</b> Musaraigne ornée / <b>German:</b> Schonspitzmaus / <b>Spanish:</b> Musarana ornada <b>Other common names:</b> Suisun Shrew (sinuosus), Tule Shrew (juncensis) <b>Taxonomy.</b> Sorex ornatus Merriam, 1895, “ San Emigdio Canyon, Mount Pinos [Kern Co.], California].,” USA. Restricted by L. N. Carraway in 2007 to “latitude 34-98°N, longitude 119-18°W.” Sorex ornatus is in the S. vagrans group and is the closest relative to S. vagrans. There are three major genetic clades in S. ornatus: Northern, Central, and Southern. Of these, the Northern clade clustered with specimens of S. vagrans, indicating possi- ble hybridization or they are conspecifics. Subspecies juncensis named by E. W. Nelson and E. A. Goldman in 1909 from marshes of San Quintin in northern Baja California was originally thought to be extinct after not being captured for 90 years, although a recent study has confirmed the speciesis still present in the San Quintin plains. Subspecies juncensis and sinuosus have been variously recognized as distinct species, although they are retained as subspecies here. Nine subspecies recognized. <b>Subspecies and Distribution.</b> S.o.ornatusMerriam,1895—SCalifornia(SWUSA)andNBajaCalifornia(NWMexico). S.o.californicusMerriam,1895—CCalifornia(SWUSA). S.o.juncensisNelson&amp;Goldman,1909—SanQuintinplains,BajaCalifornia(NWMexico)..0.lagunaeNelson&amp;Goldman,1909—StipofBajaCaliforniaSur(WMexico).nnn.0.relictusGrinnell,1932—aroundBuenaVistaLakeinSWCalifornia(SWUSA)..0.salariusvonBloeker,1939—WCCalifornia(SWUSA).Ln.0.salicornicusvonBloeker,1932—coastalSWCalifornia(SWUSA)..0.sinuosusGrinnell,1913—islandsandtidalmarshlandsinSanPabloandSuisunbays,WCCalifornia(SWUSA). S. o. willetti von Bloeker, 1942 — Santa Catalina I off SW California (SW USA). <b>Descriptive notes.</b> Head—body 45-70 mm,tail 31-40 mm, hindfoot 11-13 mm; weight 3-7 g. The Ornate Shrew is medium-sized. Dorsum is grayish brown to dark brown, often with reddish or grayish overtone, and venteris a lighter more silvery gray. Melanism has been reported. Tail is relatively short, nearly naked, and slightly bicolored, being brown above and lighter below. Teeth are pigmented reddish. There are five unicuspids, third is smaller than fourth, and fifth is minute. I' has medial tine within the pigmentation, and they have deep interdenticular spaces. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 54 and FN = 76. <b>Habitat.</b> Mostly brackish and freshwater marsh and swamp habitats but also chaparral, grassy hillsides, landlocked regions (primarily subspecies ornatus) and adjacent woodlands, and coastal (juncensis, salarius, salicornicus, sinuosus) and riparian (lagunae, ornatus, relictus) areas, from sea level to elevations of ¢.2000 m. The Ornate Shrew prefers wet areas in marshes and swamps or in dense vegetation surrounding rivers, lakes, and ponds. <b>Food and Feeding.</b> The Ornate Shrew primarily eats small invertebrates in leaf litter. <b>Breeding.</b> Reproduction of the Ornate Shrew seems to occur from late February until early October in San Francisco Bay (USA), although most breeding happens earlier and later in the season (through May and in late summer), decreasing in late spring to mid-summer. Some young born early in the season can reach sexual maturity later in summer and breed same season they were born. Embryo counts are 4-6/female. Ornate Shrews generally live to 14-16 months, rarely longer. <b>Activity patterns.</b> Activity of Ornate Shrews varies throughout the year, but they are mostly active at night and are less active during the day. Nocturnal activity is highest during the breeding season. Within an hour, 8-12 periods of activity have been observed ranging in length from a few seconds to ten minutes, with longer periods of rest in between. Ornate Shrews use tunnel systems to move around, rarely building their own burrows and using tunnel systems of other subterranean small mammals. They spend most oftheir time in burrows during the day and come out of burrows and forage on the ground at night. Torpor was observed in captive Ornate Shrews when food was scarce and lasted for a minute or so up to an hour, being induced by starvation. <b>Movements, Home range and Social organization.</b> Ornate Shrews are primarily solitary and highly territorial, but if food is plentiful, they are more capable of coexisting with others (at least in captivity). Captive shrews kept together rarely fought if food was abundant, but after food became scarce, they would fight and attempt to kill each other. Densities vary widely throughout the year and are highest in summer and lowest in winter. In ideal habitats, densities have been recorded at 111 ind/ha. <b>Status and Conservation.</b> Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Ornate Shrew was once very common and widespread, although recent agricultural expansion and urban development have resulted in destruction or alteration of much of its coastal salt marsh and freshwater swamp and marsh habitats. The “Tule Shrew” (subspecies juncensis) was previously thought to be extinct since it was not recorded in 90 years, although a recent specimen was captured. However, the marshland habitat in that region has been largely destroyed and the subspecies is now found in coastal vegetation in San Quintin. Nevertheless, in regions away from the coast, Ornate Shrews are still relatively common. They are protected by Mexican legislation and occur in multiple protected areas, including Sierra de San Pedro Martir National Park in Mexico. <b>Bibliography.</b> Alvarez-Castafneda, Matson et al. (2016), Camargo &amp; Alvarez-Castafieda (2018), Carraway (2007), Esteva et al. (2010), Hays &amp; Lidicker (2000), Maldonado, Hertel &amp; Vila (2004), Maldonado,Vila &amp; Wayne (2001), Nelson &amp; Goldman (1909), Newman &amp; Rudd (1978a, 1978b), Owen &amp; Hoffmann (1983), Tobon (2014b).
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 pages 420-421, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6870843