Suncus murinus

Order: Lipotyphla > Family: Soricidae > Genus: Suncus > Species: Suncus murinus

Common Name: Asian house shrew

Type Description

Linnaeus, C. 1766-1768. Systema naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis synonymis, locis. Vol. 1. Regnum Animale. pt. 1, pp. 1-532 [1766]; vol. 3, Appendix pp. 223-235 [1768]. 12th ed. [Vol. 3, Regnum Lapideum, pp.1-222, rejected for nomenclaturalm purposes, ICZN, opinion 296]. Laurentii Salvii, Stockholm, 3 vols.

Type Locality

Indonesia, Java.

Measurements

Head and body: 110-115 mm
Tail length: 70-84 mm
Weight: 3.5-9.5 g

Description

Suncus murinus was introduced and is much bigger than either Suncus lixus or Suncus varilla.

Distribution

Suncus murinus was introduced from the East Indies onto Pemba and Zanzibar Islands. (Kingdon, 1984) Apparently, this species is more commonly known throughout S Africa and therefore only has a very patchy distribution area. (Kingdon, 1997)

Key References

1. Kingdon, J. 1984. East African mammals: An atlas of evolution in Africa. (Insectivores and Bats). University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 2A:92.
2. Kingdon, J. 1997. The Kingdon field guide to African mammals, AP Natural World Academic Press, Harcourt Brace & Company, San Diego, p. 143.
3. Nowak, R. M. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World. Sixth ed. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, 1:202-203, 223-225.