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Blarina hylophaga

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Elliot's Short-tailed Shrew
(Blarina hylophaga)
Range
Taxonomic classification
Order:Eulipotyphla
Suborder:Erinaceota
Family:Soricidae
Subfamily:Soricinae
Tribe:Blarinini
Genus:Blarina
Binomial details
Blarina hylophaga D. G. Elliot, 1899

Description

From Best & Hunt (2020): "This is a medium-sized, short-tailed shrew, intermediate in size between northern [Blarina brevicauda] and southern short-tailed shrews [Blarina carolinensis]. However, because there is extensive overlap in sizing among the three species, size alone cannot be used to identify individuals. In areas of sympatry, analyses of chromosomes or DNA are the only sure methods of identification. Pelage is dark gray to brown on the dorsum and slightly paler on the ventrum. The snout is long and pointed. Legs and tail are short. Ears and eyes are tiny, and eyelids may not be present."

From Schmidley & Bradley (2016): "Elliot's short-tailed shrew is nearly identical in appearance to the southern short-tailed shrew, B. carolinensis; both are tiny, slate-gray to brownish colored shrews with short tails and no external ears. Blarina hylophaga differs in having slightly larger cranial measurements and a noticeably larger fourth premolar. Also, B. hylophaga tends to be grayish in coloration, whereas B. carolinensis is often tinged with brown."

External measurements

Length measurements are in millimeters (mm) and weight measurements are in grams (g), unless stated otherwise. If available, the sample size (n=) is provided. If a range is not provided and n= is not given, then the listed measurement represents an average.

Part of range Reference Total length Tail length Hindfoot length Ear length Mass
Colorado Armstrong et al. (2010) 95–135 17–30 11–17 15–30
rangewide Best & Hunt (2020) 92–121 19–27 11–19 2–4 13–16
rangewide Wilson & Ruff (editors, 1999) 92–121 19–25 13–16
Texas Schmidly & Bradley (2016) 88 17 11 18–28


Skull

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Image(s) coming soon. We are currently imaging this skull.

Similar species

Blarina brevicauda is a much larger short-tailed shrew than B. hylophaga. In areas where B. hylophaga is sympatric with B. carolinensis, analyses of chromosomes or DNA are the only sure methods of identification.

From Schmidley & Bradley (2016): "Blarina hylophaga differs in having slightly larger cranial measurements and a noticeably larger fourth premolar [than B. carolinensis]. Also, B. hylophaga tends to be grayish in coloration, whereas B. carolinensis is often tinged with brown."

References

Armstrong DM, Fitzgerald JP, Meaney CA. 2010. Mammals of Colorado, Second Edition. Denver (CO, USA): University Press of Colorado.

Best TL, Hunt JL. 2020. Mammals of the southeastern United States. Tuscaloosa (AL, USA): University Alabama Press.

Elliot DG. 1899. Descriptions of apparently new species and sub-species of mammals from the Indian Territory. Field Columbian Museum Publication 38 Zoological Series 1(15): 287.

Schmidly DJ, Bradley RD. 2016. The mammals of Texas. Austin (TX, USA): University of Texas Press.

Wilson DE, Ruff S, editors. 1999. The Smithsonian Book of North American Mammals. Washington D.C. (USA): Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press.

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