Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2007B00385:body:0:p4
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2007B00385
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 10624–13554

extremely common all over the island and its distinctive shrill squeaks could be heard all around as one stood quietly in the rainforest (Lister 1888, Andrews 1900). By 1908 it was considered to be probably extinct with no specimen either seen or heard during a visit by Andrews (1909). It was rediscovered in 1985, with two specimens located accidentally over a period of less than one month in rainforest on the western side of the island (Meek 2000; J. Tranter, DEH, pers. comm.).  Following inquiries by Meek (1998), it was reported that two specimens were encountered in 1958 during rainforest clearing operations for phosphate mining near South Point. However, since 1985, no further individuals have been recorded despite various targeted surveys across the island using a variety of techniques (e.g. Meek 2000), fauna surveys as a component of environmental assessment reports for development proposals, and during the course of field studies on other rainforest fauna. Given there are only two confirmed records over the past century, the Christmas Island shrew has to be considered as extremely rare or possibly extinct.

The most important short-term objective of the Recovery Plan is to initiate targeted field surveys to determine the current distribution and status of the Christmas Island Shrew.

Part A: Species information and general requirements

Species
Christmas Island Shrew Crocidura attenuata trichura

Conservation Status

Currently listed Endangered under the Environment Protection Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).

Taxonomy
The taxonomic status of the Christmas Island Shrew is unclear.

It was originally regarded as "a local variety" of the southeast Asian White-toothed Shrew Crocidura fuliginosa (Dobson 1888 cited in Thomas 1888), which is widespread in southeast Asia, including Indonesia (Jenkins 1982, Corbet & Hill 1992).  This was because the type specimen collected by Dobson (1888) (cited in Andrews 1900) had a tail of 80mm, 10mm longer than the head and body length of 70mm, and thickly covered with fine hairs. However, in the ten specimens collected by Andrews (1900) the tail (range: 63–75mm) was typically shorter (in one individual by 10mm) than the head and body length (range: 65–82 mm) and in only two specimens was it slightly longer. Based on the morphological characteristics, Jenkins (1976) described it as a subspecies of the Gray or Long-tailed Shrew C. attenuata. The Gray Shrew occurs from the Himalayas southwards and eastwards through Thailand, Burma and China to Malaysia and Indonesia (Jenkins 1982, Corbet & Hill 1992). Corbet & Hill (1992) have since questioned the validity of the Christmas Island Shrew being considered conspecific with C. attenuata based on morphological characteristics.

Objects of the Act
Objects of the EPBC Act have been considered in developing this recovery plan, particularly:
    a)      to provide for the protection