The genus ''Cryptotis'' is a group of relatively small
shrew
Shrews (family Soricidae) are small mole-like mammals classified in the order Eulipotyphla. True shrews are not to be confused with treeshrews, otter shrews, elephant shrews, West Indies shrews, or marsupial shrews, which belong to differ ...
s with short ears, which are usually not visible, and short tails, commonly called small-eared shrews. They have 30 teeth and are members of the
red-toothed shrew
The red-toothed shrews of the subfamily Soricinae are one of three living subfamilies of shrews, along with Crocidurinae (white-toothed shrews) and Myosoricinae (African white-toothed shrews). In addition, the family contains the extinct subfamil ...
subfamily. Since 1992, Neal Woodman (in cooperation with Robert Timm) at the United States National Museum has been in the process of revising the genus. To date, this has resulted in an increase in the number of species from 12 to 30.
Members of the genus are found mainly in
Central America
Central America ( es, América Central or ) is a subregion of the Americas. Its boundaries are defined as bordering the United States to the north, Colombia to the south, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. ...
; the
North American least shrew, ''C. parva'', is the only species found north of
Mexico
Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...
. The genus occurs as far south as northern
Peru
, image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg
, image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg
, other_symbol = Great Seal of the State
, other_symbol_type = National seal
, national_motto = "Firm and Happy f ...
and as far east as western
Venezuela
Venezuela (; ), officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ( es, link=no, República Bolivariana de Venezuela), is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many islands and islets in th ...
in
South America
South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the sout ...
. It is the only soricomorph genus found south of
Guatemala. The
limited diversity and restricted northern distribution of shrews in South America implies that the group entered the continent relatively recently from
Central America
Central America ( es, América Central or ) is a subregion of the Americas. Its boundaries are defined as bordering the United States to the north, Colombia to the south, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. ...
, where they are
more diverse, presumably as part of the
Great American Interchange. However, shrews have no fossil record in South America that would allow their arrival to be dated.
List of species
* Genus ''Cryptotis''
Central American least shrew
The Central American least shrew (''Cryptotis orophila'') is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is found in the highlands and mid-elevations from the western part of the northern coast of Honduras to central Costa Rica. It is found in ...
(''Cryptotis orophila'')
*** North American least shrew (''Cryptotis parva'')
*** Tropical small-eared shrew (''Cryptotis tropicalis'')
** ungrouped/relict
*** Enders's small-eared shrew
Enders's small-eared shrew (''Cryptotis endersi'') is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is endemic to Panama
Panama ( , ; es, link=no, Panamá ), officially the Republic of Panama ( es, República de Panamá), is a trans ...
(''Cryptotis endersi'')
*** Talamancan small-eared shrew
The Talamancan small-eared shrew (''Cryptotis gracilis'') is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is found in Costa Rica and Panama
Panama ( , ; es, link=no, Panamá ), officially the Republic of Panama ( es, República d ...
(''Cryptotis gracilis'')
*** Big Mexican small-eared shrew (''Cryptotis magna'')
References
External links
{{Taxonbar, from=Q1746975
Mammal genera