Gathorne's shrew or Gathorne's white-toothed shrew (Crocidura gathornei) is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is endemic to northern India.[2]

Gathorne's shrew
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Eulipotyphla
Family: Soricidae
Genus: Crocidura
Species:
C. gathornei
Binomial name
Crocidura gathornei
Jenkins, 2013

Taxonomy edit

Although specimens of this species were collected as far back as 1913, this species was first described over a century later, in 2013. It is named in honor of British zoologist Gathorne Gathorne-Hardy, 5th Earl of Cranbrook.[1][3]

Distribution and habitat edit

It is known only from the Western Himalayas of India, at three localities in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, at 2,743–3,353 metres (8,999–11,001 ft) above sea level. It inhabits open ground with grasses, balsams, and rhododendron, belonging to the Western Himalayan alpine shrub and meadows ecoregion. At other localities, it inhabits the Western Himalayan broadleaf forests ecoregion, but bordering on alpine shrubland.[1][3]

Status edit

Nothing is known about threats to this species, and it has been classified as Data Deficient by the IUCN Red List. No villages or cultivation are known from the vicinity of its type locality.[1][3]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d Jenkins, P.; Dando, T.; Kennerley, R. (2019). "Crocidura gathornei". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T111765432A111767002. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T111765432A111767002.en. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  2. ^ "Explore the Database". www.mammaldiversity.org. Retrieved 2022-03-12.
  3. ^ a b c Jenkins, Paula D. (2013). "An account of the Himalayan mountain soricid community, with the description of a new species of Crocidura (Mammalia: Soricomorpha: Soricidae)" (PDF). Raffles Bulletin of Zoology. Suppl.29: 161–175.