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- ITSES - |
Eurasian Insectivores and Tree Shrews:
Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan
Published 1995
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Sub-family Uropsilinae
GENUS UROPSILUS -
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The genus Uropsilus was first described by Milne Edwards (1871)
from material sent back from Muping (now Baoxing), Sichuan, by the renowned
French missionary, Père Armand David. These small insectivores are
shrew-like in appearance, but exhibit a mole-like skull and dentition.
Four species are now recognised in this genus (sub-family Uropsilinae)
(Hutterer, 1993). Previously only one species was recognised (Ellerman
and Morrison-Scott, 1951) on the grounds that the variability of dental
formula was erratic. But in a detailed revision of the genus, Hoffmann
(1984) demonstrated that three distinct species, with areas of sympatry,
could be recognised. Wang and Yang (1989) have since recognised a fourth
species. All members of this genus are restricted to southern China and
adjacent parts of Myanmar. Almost nothing is known about their ecology.
Uropsilus andersoni - Return to Top of Page | Table of contents
Taxonomy: Uropsilus andersoni Thomas 1911. Two forms described as subspecies of U. andersoni are conspecific with U. gracilis (Hoffmann, 1984).
IUCN Category of Threat: Lower Risk (subcategory Least Concern).
Description: Similar in external appearance to U. soricipes.
Distribution: This species is restricted to South (Corbet, 1992) and Central (Hutterer, 1993) Sichuan, China.
Habitat: Forest and alpine regions.
Ecology and behaviour: The conservation requirements and behaviour
of this species in the wild are poorly known.
Uropsilus gracilis - Return to Top of Page | Table of contents
Taxonomy: Uropsilus soricipes Thomas 1911
IUCN Category of Threat: Lower Risk (subcategory Least Concern).
Description: Similar in external appearance to U. soricipes, but with a longer tail, Considerable geographical variation has been noted in the size of U. gracilis (Hoffmann, 1984).
Distribution: South Shaanxi, Sichuan and western Yunnan (China) and North Myanmar at altitudes of 1200-4250m. Sympatric with U. soricipes in parts of Central Sichuan.
Habitat: Forest and alpine regions.
Ecology and behaviour: The behaviour and conservation requirements
of this species are still poorly known.
Uropsilus investigator - Return to Top of Page | Table of contents
Taxonomy: Uropsilus investigator Thomas 1922. Formerly included in U. gracilis by Hoffmann (1984). On the basis of morphology and distribution, Wang and Yang (1989) concluded that both are sympatric in Yunnan and should therefore be regarded as distinct species.
IUCN Category of Threat: Endangered (Bl and 2c).
Description: This species measures from 67-83mm, with a tail length of 54-75mm.
Distribution: This species h'as only been recorded from Yunnan, People's Republic of China, specifically the Kui-chiang-Salween divide at 28'N (Wang and Yang, 1989). It is known only from the type specimen, collected at 3600m.
Habitat: The habitat preferences of this species are not known. They are possibly similar to those of U. soricipes.
Ecology and behaviour: The ecology of this species has not been
investigated in the wild.
Chinese shrew-mole (Uropsilus soricipes) - Return to Top of Page | Table of contents
Taxonomy: Uropsilus soricipes Milne-Edwards 1872.
IUCN Category of Threat: Endangered (Bl and 2c).
Description: In appearance this species measures from 63-88mm, with a long tail of 54-75mm. Colour is apparently quite variable, ranging from dark brown to slate-grey. Overall, this species resembles a shrew more than a mole and its unspecialised limbs suggest that it probably forages beneath leaf litter rather than constructing a network of tunnels. The long, scaly snout is formed of two tubular nostrils with a groove along the top. The ears extend beyond the fur on the head and are conspicuous. The tail is slender and covered with rings of small scales.
Distribution: This species is restricted to a small area of Central Sichuan at altitudes of 1500-2700m (Hoffmann, 1984).
Habitat: Forest and alpine regions. Sympatric with U. gracilis in some areas.
Ecology and behaviour: The behaviour of this species in the wild
still awaits detailed examination.