Brazilian shrew mouse

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Brazilian shrew mouse
Temporal range: Pleistocene – Recent
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Cricetidae
Subfamily: Sigmodontinae
Tribe: Akodontini
Genus: Blarinomys
Thomas, 1896
Species:
B. breviceps
Binomial name
Blarinomys breviceps
(Winge, 1888)

The Brazilian shrew mouse (Blarinomys breviceps),[2] also known as the blarinine akodont,[3] is a rodent in the tribe Akodontini from the Atlantic Forest of eastern and southeastern Brazil.[1] It is the only species in the genus Blarinomys.[3] Phylogenetic analysis suggest that there are two clear geographical clades, a northeastern and southeastern. [4]

Morphology[edit]

The appearance of the Brazilian shrew mouse is often compared to that of small insectivorous shrews or moles with small, reduced eyes, short ears and tail, and short, soft fur.[5] Its mole-like appearance contributes to its ability to be differentiated from other rodents in its Neotropical habitat.[6] Overall, its specialized body structure lends itself to the animal's subterranean life, with broad forefeet and large claws for digging.[7] It has a long snout that is used to find insects in the ground and highly developed jaw muscles that help to close the mouth quickly, as to avoid swallowing dirt.[5] The species has demonstrated sexual dimorphism in that females are usually slightly larger than males.[6]

Lifespan[edit]

The average lifespan of the Brazilian shrew mouse is unknown, as they are difficult to find. Captive specimens tend to refuse food and die shortly after capture.[6] It is generally assumed that the species' lifespan is similar to other Sigmodontinae rodents, which is typically less than one year.[8][page needed]

Diet[edit]

Very little is known about the diet of B. breviceps, however it is assumed to be primarily insectivorous. When studied in captivity, many specimens refuse food and die within a few days. However, some captive organisms have been shown to eat a variety of insects including crickets, moths and butterflies, and roaches. Overall, they tend to refuse other food sources such as fruits or seeds.[6]

Conservation status[edit]

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of Endangered Species, the Brazilian shrew mouse is considered of least concern.[1] However, some experts suggest that since the species is so difficult to find, data is insufficient to confidently label their conservation status.[9]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Pardinas et al., 2008
  2. ^ Duff and Lawson, 2004
  3. ^ a b Musser and Carleton, 2005
  4. ^ Ventura, K.; Sato-Kuwabara, Y.; Fagundes, V.; Geise, L.; Leite, Y.L.R.; Costa, L.P.; Silva, M.J.J.; Yonenaga-Yassuda, Y.; Rodrigues, M.T. (2012). "Phylogeographic Structure and Karyotypic Diversity of the Brazilian Shrew Mouse (Blarinomys breviceps, Sigmodontinae) in the Atlantic Forest". Cytogenetic and Genome Research. 138 (1): 19–30. doi:10.1159/000341887. ISSN 1424-859X. PMID 22907314. S2CID 207643280.
  5. ^ a b Missagia, Rafaela Velloso; Perini, Fernando Araujo (November 2018). "Skull morphology of the Brazilian shrew mouse Blarinomys breviceps (Akodontini; Sigmodontinae), with comparative notes on Akodontini rodents". Zoologischer Anzeiger. 277: 148–161. doi:10.1016/j.jcz.2018.09.005. ISSN 0044-5231. S2CID 92290701.
  6. ^ a b c d Matson, John O.; Abravaya, J. Paul (1977-06-15). "Blarinomys breviceps". Mammalian Species (74): 1–3. doi:10.2307/3503793. ISSN 0076-3519. JSTOR 3503793.
  7. ^ Hildebrand, Milton (1985), "Chapter 6. Digging of Quadrupeds", Functional Vertebrate Morphology, Harvard University Press, pp. 89–109, doi:10.4159/harvard.9780674184404.c6, ISBN 9780674184404
  8. ^ Nowak, Ronald M. (1999-07-29). Walker's mammals of the world. ISBN 0801857899. OCLC 1037249783.
  9. ^ Alexsander Zamorano ANTUNES Marilda Rapp de ESTON (2010). Registro de Blarinomys breviceps (Winge, 1888) (Cricetidae, Rodentia) no Parque Estadual Carlos Botelho – SP (Nota Científica). A record of Brazilian shrew-mouse Blarinomys breviceps (Winge, 1888) (Cricetidae, Rodentia) in Carlos Botelho State Park – SP, Brazil (Scientific Note). Instituto Florestal. OCLC 860212699.

Literature cited[edit]

  • Duff, A. and Lawson, A. 2004. Mammals of the World: A checklist. New Haven, Connecticut: Yale University Press, 312 pp. ISBN 0-7136-6021-X
  • Hildebrand, M. 1985. Digging in Quadrupeds. Functional Vertebrate Morphology. Harvard University Press. Pp. 89-109.
  • Matson, JO and Abravaya, JP. 1977. Blarinomys breviceps. Mammalian Species (74): 1. doi:10.2307/3503793. ISSN 0076-3519.
  • Missagia, R. and Perini, F. 2018. Skull morphology of the Brazilian shrew mouse Blarinomys breviceps (Akodontini; Sigmodontinae), with comparative notes on Akodontini rodents. Zoologischer Anzeiger. 277. 10.1016/j.jcz.2018.09.005.
  • Musser, G.G. and Carleton, M.D. 2005. Superfamily Muroidea. Pp. 894–1531 in Wilson, D.E. and Reeder, D.M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: a taxonomic and geographic reference. 3rd ed. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2 vols., 2142 pp. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0
  • Nowak, R. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World, vol. II. Baltimore and London: The Johns Hopkins University Press.
  • Pardinas, U., Patterson, B., D'Elia, G. and Teta, P. 2008. Blarinomys breviceps. In IUCN. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2009.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on February 4, 2010.
  • Ventura, K., Sato-Kuwabara, Y., Fagundes, V., Geise, L., Leite, Y., Costa, L., Silva, M., Yonenaga-Yassuda, Y., Rodrigues, M. 2012. Phylogeographic Structure and Karyotypic Diversity of the Brazilian Shrew Mouse (Blarinomys breviceps, Sigmodontinae) in the Atlantic Forest. Cytogenetic and Genome Research. 138 (1): 19–30.
  • Zamorano A and Eston MR. 2010. Registro de Blarinomys breviceps (Winge, 1888) (Cricetidae, Rodentia) no Parque Estadual Carlos Botelho – SP (Nota Científica). A record of Brazilian shrew-mouse Blarinomys breviceps (Winge, 1888) (Cricetidae, Rodentia) in Carlos Botelho State Park – SP, Brazil (Scientific Note). Instituto Florestal. OCLC 860212699
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