Neomys teres G. S. Miller 1908
Creators: name: Mittermeier, Russell A.
name: Wilson, Don E.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2018
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Mammalia
Soricomorpha
Soricidae
Neomys
Neomys teres

description: 180. Transcaucasian Water <i>Shrew Neomys teres</i> <b>French:</b> Crossope du Caucase / <b>German:</b> Kaukasische Bachspitzmaus / <b>Spanish:</b> Musgano del Caucaso <b>Taxonomy.</b> Neomys teres G. S. Miller, 1908, “ edge of brook in mountains (altitude 7000 feet [= 2134 m]) 25 miles [= 40 km] north of Erzeroum [= Erzurum, Erzurum Province], Turkey.” Neomys teres is ecologically close and very similar in appearance to N. fodiens, although genetically equidistant from N. anomalus and N. fodiens. Subspecific taxonomy needs verification. Four subspecies recognized. <b>Subspecies and Distribution.</b> N. t. teres G. S. Miller, 1908 — Turkey. N. t. balkaricus Ognev, 1926 — Ciscaucasia. N. t. leptodactylus Satunin, 1914 — Transcaucasia. N. t. schelkounikovi Satunin, 1913 — Greater Caucasus. <b>Descriptive notes.</b> Head-body 83-101 mm, tail 58-73 mm, hindfoot 18-2-22-1 mm; weight 11-28 g. The Transcaucasian Water Shrew is very large, larger than any other modern species of Neomys. Keel on tail is well developed and occupies about 50% oftail’s length distally. Swimming borders ofstiff hairs on feet are quite well developed. Tail is usually longer than 65% of head-body length. Pelage is longer and denser compared with other species of Neomys. Eyes are hidden in fur. Upper parts of body are blackbrown, with weak ash or silvery gray tint. Belly is light gray, sometimes with pale yellow or grayish brown tint. Light spot behind eyeis poorly seen. Tail varies from bicolored to light unicolored. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 52 and FN = 98. X-chromosome is medium-sized submetacentric, and Y-chromosome is small metacentric. There are 44 metacentric and submetacentric autosomes and 3 acrocentric autosomes. <b>Habitat.</b> Banks of small rivers and creeks in mixed and coniferous forest belts of mountains or alpine meadows at elevations up to 2500 m. Habitats with rank near-water vegetation are preferred, while habitats near large rivers are avoided, especially when banks are barren of vegetation. In Turkey, the Transcaucasian Water Shrew is occasionally found along irrigation channels and ditches into fields and orchards. <b>Food and Feeding.</b> Gastric contents of Transcaucasian Water Shrews were examined in Armenia, and terrestrial invertebrates were higher in biomass than water invertebrates, accounting for 21% oftotal biomass. More common terrestrial invertebrates included earthworms, adult beetles, adult dipterans, spiders, and harvestmen; caterpillars prevailed in gastric contents of two individuals. Isopods (Asellus), freshwater shrimp, and caddis worms were most prevalent among water invertebrates. Vertebrate tissues were not found in stomachs. The Transcaucasian Water Shrew might be capable of immobilizing its prey, like other species of Neomys, but studies to verify this are lacking. <b>Breeding.</b> Young Transcaucasian Water Shrews are born in May-August. Litters have 2-9 young (average six). <b>Activity patterns.</b> The Transcaucasian Water Shrew is semi-aquatic. Activity periods occur mostly at night or twilight in summer and shift to daytime in winter when individuals are active in the morning and afternoon. <b>Movements, Home range and Social organization.</b> No information. <b>Status and Conservation.</b> Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. Population sizes are not high, but the Transcaucasian Water Shrew is common. <b>Bibliography.</b> Bannikova &amp; Kramerov (2005), Churchfield et al. (2006), Krystufek &amp; Vohralik (2001), Sokolov &amp; Tembotov (1989), Zaitsev et al. (2014), Zima et al. (1998).
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 457, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6870843