Trowbridge's Shrew

Trowbridge's shrew (''Sorex trowbridgii'') is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is found in southern British Columbia in Canada and in Washington, Oregon, and California in the United States.

Taxonomy

Trowbridge's shrew was first described in the scientific literature in 1857 by Spencer Fullerton Baird, in a report of surveys and explorations conducted to find a suitable route for a railroad from the Mississippi to the Pacific Ocean. The scientific name given was ''Sorex trowbridgii''. The generic name ''Sorex'' is Latin, meaning "shrew-mouse." The species name "trowbridgii" is a patronym to honor William Petit Trowbridge. The type locality for the species is Astoria, Oregon. Baird's initial record describes four specimens made available to him. The first two were provided by Trowbridge. They were skins that had been collected by "Jas. Wayne" in June 1855. The other two specimens were collected by George Suckley at Fort Steilacoom in 1856. Those two specimens were preserved in alcohol prior to submission to Baird.

Description

Trowbridge's shrew is a medium-sized shrew with a long tail. Non-breeding shrews weigh around while breeding shrews average around . The fur colorings change over the year, with a darker more brownish coat in the summer and a lighter gray in winter. They have many long whiskers and their ears are mostly covered with fur. Trowbridge's shrews are also known to go through two molts, one in the summer and one in the winter. The winter coat is thick and grey while the summer coat is light and dark brown. Young Trowbridge's shrew have a hairy tail, which becomes less hairy with age. The tail is bi-colored: darker on the top than the bottom, with a sharp line separating the colors. This feature can be used to distinguish Trowbridge's shrew from similar shrews. They are pentadactyl, with whitish to lightly tan colored feet. The caps of the teeth have a dark reddish-brown pigmentation. The dental formula of ''Sorex trowbridgii'' is =32. The skull is similar in size to that of other long-tailed shrews.

Trowbridge's shrew can be distinguished from closely related shrews by the third unicuspid being smaller than the fourth. Other distinguishing features include a post-mandibular foramen, more posterior positioning of the orbit, and orientation of lacrimal and infraorbital foramina relative to the molars. The Trowbridge's shrew has four traits that distinguish it from the Dusky Shrew. It has a first upper incisor that is curved, a bicoloured tail, upper unicuspid teeth have pigmented ridge separated from the cingulum by a longitudinal groove and on the first upper incisor the medial tine is above the pigmented area on the tooth.

Fossil record

Fossilized remains of Trowbridge's shrew have been obtained from the Carpinteria Tar Pits. These dated from the Wisconsonian (late Ranchlabrean) epoch. These remains were obtained from a site at the extreme south end of the range of distribution. Scientists suspect that the shrew developed earlier, but that no fossils have been found due to a lack of such fossil sites of suitable age along the west coast north of San Francisco.

Distribution and habitat

Trowbridge's shrew is found along the western coast of North America. They occur in the extreme southwest of British Columbia, south of Burrard Inlet. They are found in the western part of the states of Washington and Oregon. In northern California, the distribution forks. In the west, the population continues south through the coast range to Santa Barbara County. Through eastern California, the population extends south through the Warner Mountains and the Sierra Nevada Mountains to Kern County. Different subspecies are found in different regions of the geographic range. They are found from sea level up to an elevation of .

Trowbridge's shrew resides in forested areas where the ground may be littered with debris for cover. After logging in an area, they may remain, if sufficient ground cover is present. They are found in both dry and moist forests, as well as in swampy woodlands. Populations on Destruction Island off the Washington coast live in deep rank grass near salmonberry patches. They are less likely to be found near streams. In the southern reaches of their range, they may be found in chaparral.

Behavior and ecology

Trowbridge's shrews occupy an important ecological niche. They are preyed upon by raptors including the barred owl (''Stirix varia''). The Pacific giant salamander (''Dicamptodon sp.'') is another known predator. While domestic cats are known to kill them, they usually do not eat them. Known parasites include a number of ticks, mites, chiggers, fleas, worms, and single-celled organisms.

Since they are the most frequently captured shrews within their range, it is presumed that they are the most abundant.

The life-span of Trowbridge's shrews is around 1.5 years. They do not hibernate, but remain active year-round. They are roughly twice as abundant in the fall as in the spring. Insects are a primary food source for the shrews, but they also will eat spiders, worms, and centipedes. After identifying food items in the Trowbridges Shrew's stomach, the most consumed items were centipedes (Chilopoda), spiders (Araneae), internal organs of invertebrates, slugs and snails (gastropoda) and unidentified invertebrate material. During the reproductive season, food consumption is greatest.Verts, B. J., & Carraway, L. N. (1998). ''Land mammals of Oregon''. Univ of California Press. They also eat plants. Compared to other shrews in the genus ''Sorex'', Trowbridge's shrews eat more vegetable matter. During winter months, they may feed on conifer seeds, such as Douglas-fir and pine, as well as other plant seeds.

Although some shrews are known to be strong swimmers, it is not clear if this is true for Trowbridge's shrew. Thus, rivers may present a barrier to dispersal of the species. Additional comments about the range of Trowbdridge's shrew are extrapolated from studies on other species.

Reproduction

As they reach sexual maturity, Trowbridge shrews gain whole body mass. Non-breeding shrews weigh around while breeding shrews average around . The size of the testes in males increases, while the uterine horns widen in females. Once the breeding season has concluded, these structures atrophy. The time of onset of sexual maturity may be earlier or later, depending on local climate conditions, with an earlier age of onset in warmer areas. Males apparently reach sexual maturity two weeks earlier than females.

Since pregnant females have been found, which are still lactating, it is suspected that they became pregnant while nursing the young from prior broods. The average brood size is around 3-5. In northern areas, the number of embryos found in pregnant females was fewer and the breeding season appears to be shorter. The breeding season runs from March to May in Washington, but from February to June in California.

Human interactions

Effects of logging on Trowbridge's shrew populations has been studied, but the results were inconclusive, since one study showed and increase and the other a decrease.

Conservation status

The IUCN lists Trowbridge's shrew as "Least Concern" based on a 2008 assessment. The rationale for the listing includes an overall stable population, lack of major threats, and a widespread geographic distribution. In addition, there are protected areas throughout the area of distribution.

References

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{{Taxonbar, from=Q1767462

Sorex
Taxonomy articles created by Polbot
Taxa named by Spencer Fullerton Baird
Mammals described in 1857