MAMMALS LAB 4: INSECT EATERS

Order Eulipotyphla Family Soricidae - shrews (Sorex Palustris - American water shrew)

• Habitat: moist areas (2 genera occur in arid regions) - live in forest litter or in burrows constructed by rodents

• Diet: insectivorous and carnivorous, some eat plant material - salivary glands of some species secrete a poison to immobilize small prey

• Activity Pattern: some nocturnal, others active both day and night

• Lifestyle: most terrestrial, some take to water - poor vision, acute hearing and sense of smell

• Behavior: solitary, “high strung”

• Range: all major landmasses except polar regions, Australia, and southern South America

Order Eulipotyphla Family Soricidae Sorex Palustris - American water shrew

• “of the marsh”

• long tail

• hairs on feet that act like flippers

• thicker snout

• red pigment on teeth

Order Eulipotyphla Family Soricidae - shrews (Sorex cinereus - masked shrew)

• Habitat: moist areas (2 genera occur in arid regions) - live in forest litter or in burrows constructed by rodents

• Diet: insectivorous and carnivorous, some eat plant material - salivary glands of some species secrete a poison to immobilize small prey

• Activity Pattern: some nocturnal, others active both day and night

• Lifestyle: most terrestrial, some take to water - poor vision, acute hearing and sense of smell

• Behavior: solitary, “high strung”

• Range: all major landmasses except polar regions, Australia, and southern South America

Order Eulipotyphla Family Soricidae Sorex cinereus - masked shrew

• fur different color at tip vs. root

• long tail - flat, snake-skin like

• long, pointy snout

• thick, pronounced whiskers

• skinner

• light brown pigment on teeth

Order Eulipotyphla Family Soricidae - shrews (Blarina brevicauda - northern short-tailed shrew)

• Habitat: moist areas (2 genera occur in arid regions) - live in forest litter or in burrows constructed by rodents

• Diet: insectivorous and carnivorous, some eat plant material - salivary glands of some species secrete a poison to immobilize small prey

• Activity Pattern: some nocturnal, others active both day and night

• Lifestyle: most terrestrial, some take to water - poor vision, acute hearing and sense of smell

• Behavior: solitary, “high strung”

• Range: all major landmasses except polar regions, Australia, and southern South America

Order Eulipotyphla Family Soricida Blarina brevicauda - northern short-tailed shrew

• short tail - <1/2 length of body

• thicker body

• dark red/brown pigment on teeth

Order Macroscelidea Family Macroscelididae - elephant shrews and sengis

• Habitat: grassy or thorny brush, forest undergrowth

• Diet: insectivorous

• Activity Pattern: nocturnal

• Lifestyle: terrestrial - ricochet when moving fast, travel on all four feet when moving slow - live in termite mounds or burrow beneath buttressed roots

• Behavior: solitary - make loud noises by beating their tail on the ground

• Range: Northern Africa and south of Sahara

Order Eulipotyphla Family Erinaceidae - hedgehogs and gymnures

• Habitat: forest (gymnures prefer humid forests), grassland, scrub, or cultivated areas

• Diet: invertebrates, reptiles, carrion, roots, fruit

• Activity Pattern: nocturnal - European hedgehogs hibernate; desert hedgehogs estivate

• Lifestyle: terrestrial, good climbers and swimmers - live in burrows under logs, hedges, and brush piles

• Behavior: solitary - roll into ball when threatened

• Range: Africa, Europe, and Asia

Order Scandentia Family Tupaiidae - tree shrews

• Habitat: deciduous forest

• Diet: insects and fruits

• Activity Pattern: diurnal

• Lifestyle: varying levels of arboreality - excellent hearing and vision, swift runners, good climbers

• Behavior: some solitary, others like in pairs or small groups

• Range: Central and Southeast Asia

Order Eulipotyphla Family Solenodontidae - solenodons

• Habitat: forests and brushy areas

• Diet: invertebrates, reptiles, fruit, vegetables, occasional poultry tidbit - venomous, toxic saliva from submaxillary gland is injected into prey through grooves in 2nd lower incisors

• Activity Pattern: nocturnal

• Lifestyle: terrestrial - live in hollow trees, logs, or burrows they dig themselves

• Behavior: little known about sociality - captive animals establish dominance hierarchy and can live together

• Range: one species in Dominican Republic and Haiti, other species in Cuba

Order Eulipotyphla Family Talpidae - moles, shrews, and desmans (Condylura cristata - star-nosed mole)

• Habitat: varies with species - forests and open areas, streams

• Diet: omnivorous, mainly insects and small invertebrates

• Activity Pattern: any time of day, especially after rain

• Lifestyle: terrestrial, fossorial, or amphibious

• Behavior: usually solitary but Talpa digs tunnels that may be used by up to 40 moles

• Range: Europe, Asia, and North America

Order Eulipotyphla Family Talpidae Condylura cristata - star-nosed mole

• appendages on nose (Eimer’s Organs) to find food

• shorter tail with light brown lines/spotting pattern

• longer, less round body

• functionally blind

Order Eulipotyphla Family Talpidae - moles, shrews, and desmans (Scalopus aquaticus - eastern mole)

• Habitat: varies with species - forests and open areas, streams

• Diet: omnivorous, mainly insects and small invertebrates

• Activity Pattern: any time of day, especially after rain

• Lifestyle: terrestrial, fossorial, or amphibious

• Behavior: usually solitary but Talpa digs tunnels that may be used by up to 40 moles

• Range: Europe, Asia, and North America

Order Eulipotyphla Family Talipdae Scalopus aquaticus - eastern mole

• not actually aquatic

• rotund body

• long tail

• pelage has varying hues

• limbs look like an aquatic mammal (forelimbs almost parallel to ground; hind limbs pulled close to main body)

Order Afrosoricida Family Tenrecidae - tenrecs

• Habitat: varies with species - rainforest, dry forest, brushland, cultivated fields

• Diet: varies with species - insects, earthworms, crustaceans, small vertebrates

• Activity Pattern: varies with species - nocturnal or active day and night; many hibernate during southern hemisphere winter

• Lifestyle: varies with species - amphibious, arboreal, terrestrial, or fossorial

• Behavior: generally solitary, some associate in groups - in Hemicentetes, mothers and dependent offspring communicate via stridulation (vibrating specialized quills in mid-dorsal region to produce a sound)

• Range: Madagascar