[Mammalogy • 2025] Soriculus dexingensis • A New Species of the Genus Soriculus (Eulipotyphla: Soricidae) from Medog, Tibet, China, based on morphological and molecular data

 

Soriculus dexingensis

Tao Zhang, Yang, Jiang, Gu, Zou, Fu, Guo, Tong Zhang, Liu & Chen, 2025

  

DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1262.164459

Abstract

The genus Soriculus (Soricidae, Eulipotyphla) currently comprises five recognized species, predominantly distributed in the Himalayas and the Gaoligong Mountains. During our survey of small mammals in Medog County, Tibet, China, 11 Soriculus specimens were collected. In this study, we conducted phylogenetic analyses of the genus using one mitochondrial gene (Cytb) and three nuclear genes (BRCA1, APOB, and RAG2) to assess the phylogenetic relationships of these specimens. The morphology of the 11 specimens was compared with other species within the genus. Our results demonstrate that these specimens represent a new species, Soriculus dexingensis sp. nov. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that S. dexingensis sp. nov. forms a distinct sister clade to S. medogensis, and the Kimura 2-Parameter (K2P) distances between all known species of Soriculus ranged from 0.111 to 0.187, indicating interspecific divergence. Morphologically, the new species is distinguished by a relatively longer tail and a significantly higher TL/HB ratio. The discovery of S. dexingensis sp. nov. in Medog County suggests that the diversity of Soriculus species remains underestimated. Further biodiversity surveys of small mammals across the Himalayan region are warranted.

Key words: Morphology, new species, phylogeny, shrew, small mammals, Soriculus, taxonomy

Left: Dorsal, ventral and lateral views of the skull and mandibles of Soriculus dexingensis sp. nov. (SAF11216).
 Right: dorsal, ventral, and lateral views of S. dexingensis sp. nov. (SAF11216).

Soriculus dexingensis sp. nov.

 Tao Zhang, Siyu Yang, Haijun Jiang, Lin Gu, Qingfang Zou, Changkun Fu, Keji Guo, Tong Zhang, Shaoying Liu and Shunde Chen. 2025. A New Species of the Genus Soriculus (Soricidae, Eulipotyphla, Mammalia) from Medog, Tibet, China, based on morphological and molecular data. ZooKeys. 1262: 175-189. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1262.164459

[Mammalogy • 2025] Euroscaptor darwini • A New Species of Mole (Mammalia: Eulipotyphla: Talpidae) from the north-central mountains in Vietnam

Euroscaptor darwini 

 Nguyen, Bui, Dau, Le & Vu, 2025

Darwin’s mole | Chuột chũi Darwin  ||  DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1255.161942 

Abstract

A new species of fossorial mole (Eulipotyphla, Talpidae, Euroscaptor) is described from Pu Luong Nature Reserve, north-central Vietnam, based on distinct genetic and morphological characteristics. The species inhabits a geographically small and isolated upland patch (900–1100 m a.s.l.), sharply bounded by a nearly vertical escarpment. The new taxon is diagnosed by an extremely reduced tail both externally and osteologically, comprising only six or seven caudal vertebrae, the lowest number documented in the genus to date. The species differs further from known congeners in Southeast Asia by its slender cranium, narrow rostrum, elongated inner zygomatic arches, and significantly smaller anterior dentition. Phylogenetic analyses of the mitochondrial Cyt b gene indicate genetic distances of 5.41–6.35% from its closest relative, E. subanura, and clarify the evolutionary placement of the species within the genus. Multivariate analyses of 36 craniodental measurements identified key variables contributing to interspecific differentiation among Vietnamese moles, including breadth between infraorbital foramina, length of zygomatic arch, upper incisor–canine length, premolars length, and lower incisor–canine length. Specimens from the type locality show that females are larger than males. The discovery of this new Euroscaptor species currently raises the total number of recognized species in the genus to eleven worldwide and brings the number of fossorial mole species recorded in Vietnam to six. It highlights both the underestimated mammalian diversity of Vietnam and the importance of continued integrative surveys in montane landscapes, where micro-endemic and evolutionarily distinct taxa remain insufficiently documented and vulnerable to environmental change.

Key words: Annamite Range, Darwin, mitochondrial gene, PCA, small mammal, taxonomy

Cranium, mandible, and pelvic bone of Euroscaptor darwini sp. nov.:
 (I) ♂ holotype, NTS.2024.PL.01, and (II) ♀ paratype, NTS.2025.PL.02.
From top to bottom: a. Dorsal; b. Ventral; c, d. Lateral views of cranium and mandible, respectively; e, f. Lingual view (right side) of upper toothrow and lower toothrow, respectively; g. Four aspects of pelvis bone and caudal vertebrae.

External morphology of Euroscaptor darwini sp. nov.
 a. Lateral–ventral view of partial body in laboratory; b. Dorsal view; c. Ventral view; d. Lateral view; e. Truncated–tailed of paratype specimen (NTS.2025.PL.02, ♀).

Mammalia Linnaeus, 1758

Eulipotyphla Waddell et al., 1999

Talpidae G. Fischer, 1814

Euroscaptor Miller, 1940

 Euroscaptor darwini sp. nov.

Diagnosis. Euroscaptor darwini sp. nov. is clearly distinguished from congeners by its extremely short, vestigial tail, which protrudes slightly less than 2 mm beyond the skin surface. It is entirely covered by short, sparse bristle hairs that progressively lengthen toward the distal end, reaching approximately twice the length of the underlying tail. The tail is composed of only six or seven caudal vertebrae, significantly fewer than in other Euroscaptor species. The interorbital region is moderately narrow, with the inter-foraminal distance between the infraorbital foramina being conspicuously constricted. The zygomatic arches are weakly developed but exhibit an atypically elongated form. The osseous junction between the infraorbital foramina and the palate is slender and lacks lateral expansion. In lingual view of mandible, the fourth lower premolar and all three lower molars have crowns that are broader than height, with overall small tooth dimensions. The mandible is delicate, characterized by a narrow ascending ramus and fragile angular process. The pelvic girdle is delicate, markedly reduced in both size and structural robustness.

Etymology. The specific epithet darwini honors the eminent naturalist Charles Darwin, whose foundational contributions to evolutionary biology have profoundly influenced modern systematics and the understanding of speciation. Darwin’s insights have had a particularly strong impact on the authors of this study. We propose “Darwin’s mole” as the English common name, and “Chuột chũi Darwin” as the Vietnamese common name, reflecting the most prominent morphological trait and honoring the individual commemorated.

Distribution. Euroscaptor darwini sp. nov. is currently known only from its type locality within Pu Luong NR, Thanh Hoa Province, north-central Vietnam. All known specimens were collected along a forested elevational transect on the southwestern ridge of Pu Luong Mountain, at altitudes ranging from 900 to 1100 meters a.s.l.

 Son Truong Nguyen, Hai Tuan Bui, Vinh Quang Dau, Phuong Dinh Le and Yen Huong Vu. 2025. Euroscaptor darwini sp. nov., A New Species of mole (Mammalia, Eulipotyphla, Talpidae) from the north-central mountains in Vietnam. ZooKeys. 1255: 239-274.  DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1255.161942 

[Mammalogy • 2025] Crocidura stanleyi • Integrative Taxonomic Revision of endemic Dwarf Shrews Genus Crocidura (Soricidae) from the Ethiopian Highlands

 

Crocidura stanleyi

Craig, Bryjová, Bryja, Meheretu, Lavrenchenko & Peterhans, 2025

  

DOI: doi.org/10.25225/jvb.25060  

 Researchgate.net/publication/394761621

 Abstract  

The biodiversity of the Ethiopian Highlands features a significant level of endemism. Among its diverse fauna, the genus Crocidura (Soricidae), with many cryptic species, remains poorly documented, particularly for species of minute size. This study describes a newly discovered minute shrew – one of the smallest mammals worldwide – and addresses the taxonomy of the so-called ‘Afromontane clade’ of Crocidura in Ethiopia. We combined extensive field sampling of recent and historical specimens with advanced genetic analyses (genome skimming, Illumina sequencing, and cytb phylogenetics) and morphological examination (external and craniodental) to delineate the new species and address taxonomic affinities among other minute Crocidura from Ethiopia. One of our newly collected forms represents a distinct genetic lineage, corresponding with unique physical characteristics such as tail length and cranial features. Its discovery highlights the rich, yet still incompletely understood, mammalian diversity in the Ethiopian Highlands and underscores the importance of integrating morphological and molecular data in taxonomic studies.

 KEYWORDS: cryptic species, minute shrews, biodiversity, taxonomy, museomics, Morphometrics

Crocidura stanleyi, sp. nov.

Evan W. Craig, Anna Bryjová, Josef Bryja, Yonas Meheretu, Leonid A. Lavrenchenko and Julian C. Kerbis Peterhans. 2025. Integrative Taxonomic Revision of endemic Dwarf Shrews from the Ethiopian Highlands. Journal of Vertebrate Biology. 74 (25060), 25060.1-18. DOI: doi.org/10.25225/jvb.25060 (20 August 2025) 

 Researchgate.net/publication/394761621_Integrative_taxonomic_revision_of_endemic_Crocidura_from_the_Ethiopian_Highlands

[PaleoMammalogy • 2025] Vulcanoscaptor ninoti • An unexpected Scalopini mole (Mammalia: Talpidae) from the Pliocene of Europe sheds light on the phylogeny of talpids

 

Vulcanoscaptor ninoti Linares-Martín, 2025,

in Linares-Martín, Furió, Gómez de Soler, Agustí, Oms, Grandi, Blain, Moreno-Ribas, Piñero et Campeny, 2025

 DOI: doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-10396-1  

 Researchgate.net/publication/393578316

Artwork by Jesús Gamarra / IPHES-CERCA

Abstract

The Pliocene Konservat-Lagerstätten maar lake site of Camp dels Ninots (NE Iberian Peninsula) has recently delivered a partial skeleton of a mole (family Talpidae) with many elements in anatomical connection. At a first glance, molar and humerus size, geological time interval, and geographical location suggested that this specimen could correspond to Talpa minor. However, after some mechanical preparation of the clay block (matrix removal, consolidation, and cleaning) and a micro-CT scan, this excellently preserved specimen turned out to be an unknown species to science. The resulting 3D models of this new form, Vulcanoscaptor ninoti gen. et sp. nov., revealed some peculiar morphological traits in teeth, mandible, and postcranial elements, which according to the phylogenetic analysis carried out, would allocate this new species within the tribe Scalopini. This is surprising, because the closest relatives of the new species within this tribe live nowadays in North America, and only some related taxa had been previously reported in the Oligocene and Miocene fossil record from Europe. The postcranial construction of this specimen reveals a highly fossorial lifestyle supported by a complex forelimb structure. How such a specialized digging animal reached the maar lake sediments where it was finally preserved is still to be solved. Some hypotheses consider swimming abilities for this extinct species. Alternatively, this specimen could be the remaining portions of a floated or scavenged carcass whose remains fell into the lake and reached the anoxic bottom.

 

Keywords: Camp dels Ninots, Maar, Konservat-Lagerstätten, Spain, Fossorial

 

Partial skeleton of Vulcanoscaptor ninoti gen. et sp. nov. (CN10-O17-NIV11-12)

Vulcanoscaptor ninoti gen. et sp. nov.

Diagnosis (genus and species). [No trait alone is diagnostic, but the combination of characters is unique within the Talpidae] Small sized mole with dental formula ???3/2143. Doubled mesostyle in M1 and M2. Double rooted P4. Presence of a parastyle in P4. Lower premolar row without gaps. Enlarged i2. Absence of metastylid in m2. Robust and small postcranial remains. Pit for M. flexor digitorum profundus ligament present. Straight medial edge of humeral trochlea. Fusiform shape of the humeral capitulum. Well-developed and transverse olecranon crest. Anconal and coronoid processes present in the ulna. Presence of capitular process in the radius. Scaphoid and lunar not co-ossified.

Etymology. Name of the genus derived from the Latin word of ‘Vulcan’, the Roman god of fire, in reference to the volcanic nature of the source area, and ‘-scaptor’, from the ancient Greek word ‘scaptein’, to dig. Name of the species invoking ‘ninot’, the local word to refer the opaline nodules ‘doll-shaped’ typically found in the type-locality of the species, Camp dels Ninots.

Realistic reconstruction of Vulcanoscaptor ninoti.

Artwork by Jesús Gamarra / IPHES-CERCA

Adriana Linares-Martín, Marc Furió, Bruno Gómez de Soler, Jordi Agustí, Oriol Oms, Federica Grandi, Hugues-Alexandre Blain, Elena Moreno-Ribas, Pedro Piñero and Gerard Campeny. 2025. An unexpected Scalopini mole (Talpidae, Mammalia) from the Pliocene of Europe sheds light on the phylogeny of talpids. Scientific Reports. 15, 24928. DOI: doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-10396-1 [10 July 2025]

 Researchgate.net/publication/393578316_An_unexpected_Scalopini_mole_from_the_Pliocene_of_Europe

 

[Mammalogy • 2025] Nagasorex albidens • The Shrew of Nagaland: A Remarkable New Genus and Species from Northeast India, With A Discussion of The Phylogeny and Classification of The Soricidae (Mammalia)

 

Nagasorex albidens 

Hutterer, Swanson, Esselstyn & Heaney, 2025

DOI: doi.org/10.1206/0003-0090.474.1.1

digitallibrary.AMNH.org

Abstract

A new genus and species of extant shrew, Nagasorex albidens, is described based on a single specimen obtained in Nagaland, northeastern India, in 1950. The new species shows novel characters, such as a total tooth number of 34, not found in any extant genus though they are found in extinct genera such as †Miosorex, †Lartetium, †Pseudotrimylus, and †Domnina. To determine the phylogenetic relationships of the new species, we first analyzed craniodental characters from all extant and many extinct genera of Soricidae. Although statistical support for most nodes was low, the nearest relatives of the new taxon appear to be certain Miocene and Pliocene taxa from Europe and Asia—†Dobenflorinia (new name), †Clapasorex, †Miosorex, and †Crocidosorex—followed by the extant African genera Congosorex, Myosorex, and Surdisorex, all of which we treat as members of the Myosoricinae. We then conducted a molecular phylogenetic study of extant genera using mitochondrial and nuclear genes. Although the genetic data we obtained from the new shrew are limited, our results place Nagasorex as the sister taxon of Crocidurinae (mitochondrial genes), or sister to Myosoricinae + Crocidurinae (nuclear genes). We tentatively place the new genus in the Myosoricinae. Additionally, we replace the preoccupied generic name Soricella with a new name, Dobenflorinia. Based on these results, we present a new systematic arrangement of the Soricidae.

Keywords: Shrews, India, Nāgāland, Classification, Phylogeny, Nagasorex albidens

Order Eulipotyphla Waddel et al. (1999) Family Soricidae Fischer, 1814

Nagasorex, new genus

Type Species: Nagasorex albidens, new species.

Included Species: The type species only.

Etymology: The generic name combines the place of origin (Naga Hills) with the Latin sorex (shrew); the gender is masculine. The specific epithet combines the Latin albus (white) and dens (tooth).

A, Dorsal; B, ventral; and C, lateral aspects of the holotype skin of Nagasorex albidens (FMNH 76197). Total length of specimen is 97 mm. Also shown are photographs of the original field label and subsequent FMNH label.

Nagasorex albidens, new species Diagnosis: A small dark shrew with narrow tail covered by very short hairs (fig. 8); cross section of guard hairs with H-profile (fig. 13); ear conch small, round and almost naked (fig. 8); skull roof with traces of the foramina vascularia (fig. 9); 34 nonpigmented teeth, tooth formula I 3/1 C 1/1 P 3/2 M 3/3 (figs. 10, 11); p4 with a distinct “myosoricine” Y-pattern (fig. 12B); mandibular articulation with upper and lower facets (fig. 11); plus the unique combination of characters described in the following section.

Rainer Hutterer, Mark T. Swanson, Jacob A. Esselstyn and Lawrence R. Heaney. 2025. The Shrew of Nagaland: A Remarkable New Genus and Species from Northeast India, With A Discussion of The Phylogeny and Classification of The Soricidae (Mammalia). Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. (474); 1-72. DOI: doi.org/10.1206/0003-0090.474.1.1 [18 June 2025]

digitallibrary.AMNH.org/collections/7f37d745-a9ae-46d0-9cb9-840b06458c19

[PaleoMammalogy • 2024] Anourosorex andabata • A New Species of Anourosorex (Lipotyphla: Soricidae) from the Pleistocene of Vietnam

 

 Anourosorex andabata Lopatin, 2024

 

DOI: doi.org/10.1134/S0031030124700060 

 new.RAS.ru 

Abstract

Jaw fragments and isolated teeth of the mole shrew Anourosorex andabata sp. nov. are described from the Middle Pleistocene deposits of Tham Hai cave (Lang Son Province, northern Vietnam). This is the first fossil record of Anourosorex in Vietnam. The new species is characterized by medium size (as in Recent A. squamipes Milne-Edwards, 1872), a narrow apex of the coronoid process of the mandible and a weakly reduced (relatively long and wide) talonid of M1.

Jaw fragments of Anourosorex andabata Lopatin, 2024; Vietnam, Lang Son Province, Tam Hai Cave; Middle Pleistocene

Order Lipotyphla

Family Soricidae Fischer von Waldheim, 1817

Subfamily Soricinae Fischer von Waldheim, 1817

Tribe Anourosoricini Anderson, 1879

Genus Anourosorex Milne-Edwards, 1872

Anourosorex andabata Lopatin, sp. nov.

Etymology. Latin andabata, a gladiator who fought blind, blindfolded or wearing a closed helmet with no eye slits. The name is associated with the strong reduction of eyes in mole shrews and fights between males during the mating season (see Liao et al., 2013).

A. V. Lopatin. 2024. A New Species of Anourosorex (Soricidae, Lipotyphla) from the Pleistocene of Vietnam.  Paleontological Journal. 58; 363–370. DOI: doi.org/10.1134/S0031030124700060

Из среднеплейстоценовых отложений пещеры Там-Хай в провинции Лангшон на севере Вьетнама описаны остатки нового вида кротовых землероек Anourosorex andabata. Это первая ископаемая находка рода Anourosorex во Вьетнаме.

  new.RAS.ru/activities/news/slepoy-gladiator-iz-pleystotsena-vetnama/

[Mammalogy • 2023] Hylomys macarong & H. vorax • An Integrative Taxonomic Revision of Lesser Gymnures (Eulipotyphla: Erinaceidae: Hylomys) reveals Five New Species and Emerging Patterns of Local Endemism in Tropical East Asia

Hylomys dorsalis Thomas, 1888 stat. nov.
Hylomys peguensis Blyth, 1859
Hylomys maxi Sody, 1933 stat. nov.
  

 in Hinckley, Camacho-Sanchez, Chua, Ruedi, Lunde, Maldonado, Omar, Leonard & Hawkins, 2023

DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad177

 facebook.com/SmithsonianNMNH

 

Abstract

We here present a comprehensive integrative taxonomic review of the genus Hylomys, using molecular (mitochondrial genomes and up to five nuclear loci) and morphological data from museum specimens across its distribution, resulting in the description of two new species and the elevation of three subspecies to specific status. This revision significantly increases the known diversity of Hylomys from two to seven extant species, challenging the traditional view of species-level diversity within gymnures. We discuss the implications of the taxonomic findings for conservation, particularly in relation to the restricted distribution ranges of several species that may be threatened by habitat loss and/or climate change. Our research emphasizes the importance of scientific collections and underscores the potential of museum genomics and additional field sampling to identify new species and improve our understanding of species diversity in poorly studied regions. Speciation events within Hylomys occurred during the Late Miocene and Early Pliocene, possibly driven by shifting climate conditions such as the strengthening of the Indian monsoon and the expansion of seasonally dry conditions. This study supports northern Sumatra and the southern Annamites as centres of localized endemicity and suggests the need for additional small mammal surveys across Sumatra’s Barisan Range.

biodiversity, biogeography, Hylomys, Indochina, new species, mitogenomics, museum genomics, Sundaland, systematics

Hylomys Müller, 1840

Type species: Hylomys suillus Müller, 1840: 436.

Included species: The type species, plus H. parvus, H. engesseri, H. macarong sp. nov., H. vorax sp. nov., and H. dorsalis, H. maxi, and H. peguensis (recognized at species rank, below).

Distribution: Currently known from Sundaland (including Borneo, Java, Sumatra, and the Malay peninsula) and Indochina (including Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Lao P.D.R., Viet Nam, and southern China).

Map of tropical East Asia indicating sample localities in this study (circles) for each of the Hylomys taxa. Samples with associated DNA data are shown as large outlined circles, samples with associated morphological data are shown as smaller circles lacking an outline, and samples with molecular and morphological data are shown as large outlined circles with a black point inside. Inlaid maps highlight the elevational separation of specimens. Darker shades are associated with higher elevation. K-P: Kangar-Pattani Line vegetation transition.

 Hylomys maxi seen in the wild on Fraser’s Hill, Pahang, Malaysia.

Credit: David Awcock

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Hylomys maxi Sody, 1933 stat. nov.

Distribution, habitat, and natural history: Currently known from forests between c. 100 and 2000 m a.s.l. on Sumatra and 600 and 1700 m a.s.l. on the Malay peninsula, possibly extending north up to the Kangar Pattani Line (K-P) vegetation transition, which cuts across the Thailand–Malaysia border (see comments on the following species account). Hylomys maxi seems more abundant in hill and montane forests and was not recorded in dipterocarp forest in surveys on Northern Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia (Langham 1983, Boubli et al. 2004). ...

 Hylomys peguensis photographed in Wang Nam Khiao District, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.

Credit: Charoenchai Tothaisong, CC BY-NC 4.0 DEED.

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Hylomys peguensis Blyth, 1859

หนูผีหางหมู

Distribution, habitat, and natural history: Distributed across most of Indochina’s hills and mountains, except the Da Lat and Dak Lak Plateaus and surrounding lowlands. Its southern distribution limit seems to be in Perlis (Malaysia), possibly at the K-P vegetation transition, mirroring the distribution of other small mammals (Hinckley et al. 2023). ...

Hylomys macarong Hinckley, Lunde & Hawkins, sp. nov.

Etymology: The specific name ‘macarong’, which means vampire in Vietnamese (Ma cà rồng), acknowledges the long fangs (first upper incisors) that characterize mature males of this species. We suggest the common names Dalat Gymnure, Chuột Voi Đà Lạt, and Gimnuro de Dalat, in English, Vietnamese and Spanish, respectively, given that this species is just currently known from the Da Lat and Dak Lak Plateaus and surrounding lowlands, in southern Viet Nam.

Distribution, habitat, and natural history: Currently known from the Langbian/Da Lat and Dak Lak Plateaus and surrounding lowlands, in southern Viet Nam. ...

Hylomys vorax Hinckley, Lunde & Hawkins, sp. nov.

Etymology: The specific name acknowledges the voracious behaviour that Frederick Ulmer, the collector of the type series, described in his field notes: ‘They were voracious beasts often devouring the whole bait before springing the trap. Ham rind, coconut, meat, and walnuts were eaten. One shrew partially devoured the chicken head bait of a steel trap before getting caught in a nearby Schuyler trap baited with ham rind’ (USNM 271033). We recommend the common names Leuser Gymnure, Salak Ba’a Leuser, and Gimnuro de Leuser, in English, Malay, and Spanish, respectively.

Distribution, habitat, and natural history: Currently known from montane forest from 2073 to 2835 m a.s.l. on Mount Leuser, but it seems to be most abundant at elevations ranging from 2073 to 2408 m a.s.l. (Fig. 11). ...

Hylomys parvus Robinson and Kloss, 1916

Distribution, habitat, and natural history: Sumatran endemic, currently known from montane forest between 2200 and 3330 m a.s.l. on Mount Kerinci (Ruedi et al. 1994). This species has been recorded in sympatry with H. maxi at 2225 m by Robinson and Kloss (1918). ...

Hylomys dorsalis seen in the wild on Mount Murud, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia.

Credit: Quentin Martinez, www.quentinmartinez.fr, all rights reserved.

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 Habitat of Hylomys dorsalis, Mount Trus Madi, Sabah, Borneo, Malaysia, July 2016. 

  Credit: Daniel Hinckley.

Hylomys dorsalis Thomas, 1888 stat. nov.

Distribution, habitat, and natural history: Bornean endemic distributed from 1280 to 3413 m a.s.l. on Mt. Kinabalu (Lim and Heyneman 1968, Camacho-Sanchez et al. 2019) and 1510–2620 m a.s.l. on Mt. Trus Madi (authors’ unpublished data). It has also been recorded at c. 2050 m a.s.l. on Mt. Tambuyukon (Camacho-Sanchez et al. 2019), 1800–1950 m a.s.l. on Mt. Alab (authors’ unpublished data), c. 2100 m a.s.l. on Mt. Murud (Wiantoro et al. 2009), at an unknown elevation on Mt. Mulu (Cranbrook 1982), and 1000 m a.s.l. in Bario, Kelabit Highlands (MZUM-M 891).

Hylomys suillus Müller, 1841

Distribution, habitat, and natural history: Javan endemic distributed from sea level (recorded in Jakarta) to 2200 m a.s.l, although it has also been reported to be found exclusively in the montane forests of some isolated volcanoes (Bartels 1937), perhaps because most lowland forests have been logged in Java. ...

    

CONCLUSION:  

In this paper we address the systematics of Hylomys through an integrative approach combining Next Generation Museum Genomics and traditional craniodental morphometrics. We present evidence supporting the recognition of two new species, which we describe as H. macarong and H. vorax, and the elevation of H. dorsalis, H. maxi, and H. peguensis from subspecific to specific status. Our findings support northern Sumatra and the Southern Annamites as centres of localized endemicity, and suggest the need for additional small mammal surveys across Sumatra’s Barisan Range.

Arlo Hinckley, Miguel Camacho-Sanchez, Marcus A H Chua, Manuel Ruedi, Darrin Lunde, Jesús E Maldonado, Hasmahzaiti Omar, Jennifer A Leonard and Melissa T R Hawkins. 2023. An Integrative Taxonomic Revision of Lesser Gymnures (Eulipotyphla: Hylomys) reveals Five New Species and Emerging Patterns of Local Endemism in Tropical East Asia. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. zlad177. DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad177

 facebook.com/SmithsonianNMNH/posts/774068144763993

 phys.org/news/2023-12-reveals-species-soft-furred-hedgehogs-southeast.html

  

[Mammalogy • 2023] Uropsilus huanggangensis • A New Species of Shrew Moles, Genus Uropsilus Milne-Edwards, 1871 (Eulipotyphla: Talpidae), from the Wuyi Mountains, Jiangxi Province, eastern China

 

Uropsilus huanggangensis  Chen, Jiang & Ren,  

in Ren, Xu, Li, Yao, Fang, Khanal, Cheng, Zeng, Jiang et Chen, 2023.

 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1186.111592

 

 Abstract

Asian shrew moles, genus Uropsilus, are the most primitive members of family Talpidae. They are distributed mainly in southwestern China and adjacent Bhutan, Myanmar, and Vietnam. In June 2022, we collected five specimens of Uropsilus from Mount Huanggang, Jiangxi Province, eastern China, which is the highest peak of the Wuyi Mountains. We sequenced two mitochondrial (CYT B and 12S rRNA) and three nuclear (PLCB4, RAG1, and RAG2) genes to estimate the phylogenetic relationship of the five shrew moles. We also compared their morphology with recognized species within the genus. Our results show that these specimens collected from Mount Huanggang differ from all named species in Uropsilus. We formally describe the species here as Uropsilus huanggangensis sp. nov. Morphologically, the new species is distinguishable from the other Uropsilus species by the combination of dark chocolate-brown pelage, long snout, enlarged first upper incisor, similarly sized lacrimal and infraorbital foramens, and the curved and sickle-like coronoid process. The genetic distances of the cytochrome b (CYT B) gene between U. huanggangensis and other recognized Uropsilus species ranged between 9.3% and 16.4%. The new species is geographically distant from other species in the genus and is the easternmost record of the Uropsilus. The divergence time of U. huanggangensis was estimated to be the late Pliocene (1.92 Ma, 95% CI = 0.88–2.99).

Key words: Mount Huanggang, small mammals, taxonomy, Uropsilinae

Dorsal and ventral views of three Uropsilus species
A Uropsilus huanggangensis sp. nov. B U. gracilis C U. dabieshanensis.

Dorsal, ventral, and lateral views of the skull and lateral views of the mandible of three Uropsilus species
A Uropsilus huanggangensis sp. nov. B U. gracilis C U. dabieshanensis.

Uropsilus huanggangensis Chen, Jiang & Ren, sp. nov.

 

Suggested common name: Huanggang shrew mole; 

Chinese common name: 黄岗鼩鼹.

 

Diagnosis: The dorsal pelage of U. huanggangensis is dark chocolate-brown. The snout is the longest of any species in the genus. The first incisor I1 is wide and shows an enlargement at the apex of the rostrum, with a visible gap to I2. C1 is larger than P1, and P1 and P3 are similar in size. Tail is slim and relatively short, averaging 86% of head and body length. The tufts at the tail tip are short. The lacrimal foramen and infraorbital foramen are similar in size. The coronoid process is pointed and converges more upward with an incisive tip. The dental formula is I 2/1, C1/1, P 4/4, M 3/3 = 38.

Etymology: The specific name huanggangensis is derived from Mount Huanggang, the type locality of the new species; the Latin adjectival suffix -ensis means “belonging to”.

Distribution and ecology: Uropsilus huanggangensis is currently known only from the type locality on Mount Huanggang, Wuyishan National Park, Jiangxi Province, eastern China, where pecimens were collected at elevations between 1830 and 2060 m a.s.l. Coniferous forests and shrub meadows, with abundant rocks on the ground, dominate the habitat in this area.

Xueyang Ren, Yifan Xu, Yixian Li, Hongfeng Yao, Yi Fang, Laxman Khanal, Lin Cheng, Wei Zeng, Xuelong Jiang and Zhongzheng Chen. 2023. A New Species of Shrew Moles, Genus Uropsilus Milne-Edwards, 1871 (Mammalia, Eulipotyphla, Talpidae), from the Wuyi Mountains, Jiangxi Province, eastern China. ZooKeys. 1186: 25-46. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1186.111592

[Mammalogy • 2023] Mesechinus orientalis • A New Species of Forest Hedgehog (Eulipotyphla: Erinaceidae: Mesechinus) from eastern China

Mesechinus orientalis

Shi, Yao, He, Bai, Zhou, Fan, Su, Nie, Yang, Onditi, Jiang et Chen, 2023  

 

Eastern Forest Hedgehog, 华东林猬  

DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1185.111615

Abstract

The hedgehog genus Mesechinus (Erinaceidae, Eulipotyphla) is currently comprised of four species, M. dauuricus, M. hughi, M. miodon, and M. wangi. Except for M. wangi, which is found in southwestern China, the other three species are mainly distributed in northern China and adjacent Mongolia and Russia. From 2018 to 2023, we collected seven Mesechinus specimens from Anhui and Zhejiang provinces, eastern China. Here, we evaluate the taxonomic and phylogenetic status of these specimens by integrating molecular, morphometric, and karyotypic approaches. Our results indicate that the Anhui and Zhejiang specimens are distinct from the four previously recognized species and are a new species. We formally described it here as Mesechinus orientalis sp. nov. It is the only Mesechinus species occurring in eastern China and is geographically distant from all known congeners. Morphologically, the new species is most similar to M. hughi, but it is distinguishable from that species by the combination of its smaller size, shorter spines, and several cranial characteristics. Mesechinus orientalis sp. nov. is a sister to the lineage composed of M. hughi and M. wangi from which it diverged approximately 1.10 Ma.

Key words: Anhui, mammals, phylogeny, taxonomy

A living Mesechinus orientalis sp. nov. (XC 2205003) from Xuancheng, Anhui.

 Mesechinus orientalis sp. nov.

 

Suggested common name: Eastern Forest Hedgehog, 

华东林猬 (Huadong Linwei).

Diagnosis: This is a small-bodied hedgehog (GLS = 49.95 ± 1.69 mm), similar to M. hughi, but smaller than other Mesechinus species. It has the shortest spines in the genus (18–20 mm); the spines have four-colour rings, similar to the spines of M. dauuricus and M. hughi, but different from those of M. miodon and M. wangi (Fig. 8). The parietal is higher than the frontals, which differs from that of M. hughi and M. wangi (Fig. 9). The P2 is two-rooted and not completely fused (Fig. 4). The protocone of P3 is vestigial, which differs from that of M. hughi, and smaller than P2, which distinguishes it from M. dauuricus. The dental formula of M. orientalis sp. nov. [I 3/2, C1/1, P 3/2, M 3/3 (×2) = 36], which distinguishes it from M. wangi. 

 

Etymology: The specific name orientalis is derived from the Latin oriens, “the east”, and suffix -alis, “pertaining to”, in reference to the new species’ eastern distribution in Anhui and Zhejiang provinces in eastern China.

 Zifan Shi, Hongfeng Yao, Kai He, Weipeng Bai, Jiajun Zhou, Jingyi Fan, Weiting Su, Wenhui Nie, Shuzhen Yang, Kenneth O. Onditi, Xuelong Jiang, Zhongzheng Chen. 2023. A New Species of Forest Hedgehog (Mesechinus, Erinaceidae, Eulipotyphla, Mammalia) from eastern China. ZooKeys. 1185: 143-161. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1185.111615

[Mammalogy • 2023] Talpa hakkariensis & Talpa hakkariensis • Notes from the Anatolian Underground: Two New Mole Taxa from Eastern Turkey, together with A revised Phylogeny of the Genus Talpa (Eulipotyphla: Talpidae)

Talpa hakkariensis

 Gündüz, Demirtaş, Silsüpür, Özmen, Polly & Bilton, 2023

DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad049

Abstract

Subterranean life is associated with strong adaptive constraints, leading to the frequent occurrence of morphologically cryptic lineages. This is true of most small mammals, including moles (Eulipotyphla: Talpidae), where a number of species have been recognized recently, particularly following the application of molecular genetics. Here, we use mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequence data and geometric morphometrics to explore the systematics and evolution of some of the least-known Western Palaearctic moles: the Talpa davidiana group of Eastern Anatolia/Iran. We show that T. davidiana includes four taxa, two of which we describe herein: T. hakkariensis  sp. nov.,  T. davidiana davidiana, T. davidiana tatvanensis ssp. nov., and T. streetorum valid species. For the first time, we apply molecular species delimitation analyses to Talpa, confirming taxonomic hypotheses and suggesting the existence of further morphologically cryptic lineages. These analyses also support the recognition of T. transcaucasica as a valid species distinct from T. levantis. We present a revised phylogeny for Eurasian Talpa and increase the number of known extant taxa to 18, most of which are found in Anatolia, the global hotspot of diversity in this genus. This probably results from the isolation of suitable habitats by a combination of climatic and topographical heterogeneity.

Keywords: geometric morphometrics, molecular phylogeny, new species, species delimitation analyses, subspecies, subterranean, systematics, Talpinae

Talpa hakkariensis   

  

İslam Gündüz, Sadık Demirtaş, Metin Silsüpür, Medine Özmen, P David Polly and David T Bilton. 2023. Notes from the Anatolian Underground: Two New Mole Taxa from Eastern Turkey, together with A revised Phylogeny of the Genus Talpa (Mammalia: Eulipotyphla: Talpidae). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. zlad049. DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad049