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

description: 139. Everglades Short-tailed Shrew <i>Blarina peninsulae</i> <b>French:</b> Musaraigne de Floride / <b>German:</b> Everglades-Kurzschwanzspitzmaus / <b>Spanish:</b> Musarana colicorta de Everglades <b>Other common names:</b> Florida Short-tailed Shrew, Peninsular Short-tailed Shrew <b>Taxonomy.</b> Blarina carolinensis peninsulae Merriam, 1895, “ Miami River, Dade County, Fla. [= Florida],” USA. Blarina peninsulae has generally been considered a subspecies of B. carolinensis but was considered a distinct species by R. Hutterer in 2005 based on its distinct karyotype and morphology and presence of a contact zone with B. carolinensis. R. A. Benedict and colleagues in 2006 found relatively small morphometric differences between the two species and evidence of intergradation, prompting them to recognize B. peninsulae as a subspecies of B. carolinensis again. The same study also identified two possible hybrids between B. peninsulae and B. sherman. S. V. Brant and G. Orti in 2002 included two specimens from the distribution of B. peninsulae that clustered in the eastern clade of B. carolinensis, but their specific status was not mentioned. Blarina peninsulae is recognized here as a distinct species based on its distinct karyotype until genetic studies are more extensively implemented to confirm its specific or subspecific status. Monotypic. <b>Distribution.</b> NE, C &amp; S Florida except the C Everglades region (SE USA); possibly extreme SE Georgia. <b>Descriptive notes.</b> Head—body 66-76 mm, tail 18-26 mm, hindfoot 11-14 mm; weight 5-13 g. The Everglades Short-tailed Shrew is large, similar to the Southern Short-tailed Shrew (B. carolinensis) but averages slightly larger in size and cranial measurements than Southern Short-tailed Shrews from northern Florida. Pelage of the Everglades Short-tailed Shrew is short, soft, velvety, and mole-like. Dorsal pelage is slate grayish black, with silvery tinge; ventral pelage is slightly paler. There is a bare patch oflightly colored skin around diminutive eyes. Ears are very small and completely concealed by fur; vibrissae are long and white. Tail is less than 30% of head-body length, hairy, and similar in color to dorsal pelage, with small tuft at end. Feet are short and broad, with long claws, and are paler than rest of body. Hindfeet are darker than forefeet. Females have three pairs of inguinal mammae. Characteristic of the genus, the Everglades Short-tailed Shrew has five unicuspid teeth and significantly larger and angular skull than other shrews. All species of Blarina also have reddish teeth from iron deposits in their teeth. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 50-52 and FN = 52. <b>Habitat.</b> Variety of moist wetland habitats, including moist deciduous forests, grassy areas, swamplands, and floodplains. <b>Food and Feeding.</b> Similar to the Northern Short-tailed Shrew (B. brevicaudus), the Everglades Short-tailed Shrew eats arthropods, mollusks, earthworms, and fungi but also caterpillars and turtle eggs. Its ability to kill and consume young mice of small species has also been confirmed, indicating that they might have venomous saliva similar to the Southern Short-tailed Shrew. <b>Breeding.</b> Breeding of the Everglades Short-tailed Shrew occurs in March—November, and litters have c.4 young. <b>Activity patterns.</b> Everglades Short-tailed Shrews are nocturnal and semi-fossorial, creating expansive burrow systems. <b>Movements, Home range and Social organization.</b> The Everglades Short-tailed Shrew is probably solitary, except when breeding and rearing young. <b>Status and Conservation.</b> Not assessed on The IUCN Red List. It previously was included under the Southern Short-tailed Shrew (B. carolinensis) that is classified as Least Concern. The Everglades Short-tailed Shrew has a limited distribution but is considered very common and found in numerous nature reserves including Everglades National Park. <b>Bibliography.</b> Benedict et al. (2006), Brant &amp; Orti (2002), Genoways &amp; Choate (1998), George et al. (1982), Hall (1981), Hutterer (2005b), Jones et al. (1984), McCay (2001), Punzo (2003a).
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 445-446, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6870843