Relationships of amphiberingian shrews of the Sorex cinereus group

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Zoology
• Main Author: Jong, C. G. van Zyll de
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1982
• Subjects: Animal Science and Zoology; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; Lawrence Island; St Lawrence Island; Tundra; Beringia; Siberia
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z82-208; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z82-208

Nine taxa of shrews of the Sorex cinereus group occurring in northwestern North America and northeastern Siberia were studied to elucidate their interrelationships. Canonical variate analysis, cluster analysis (unweighted pair group method analysis), and numerical cladistic analysis of craniometric and external characters demonstrate the existence of four distinct forms: (1) Nearctic woodland forms, represented by Sorex c. cinereus, S. c. hollisteri, and S. c. streatori, (2) Holarctic tundra forms, represented by S. c. ugyunak and S. c. portenkoi from the North American and Asian mainland, respectively, and by S. jacksoni and S. c. leucogaster, two insular forms from St. Lawrence Island and Paramushir; (3) S. c. camtschatica, a Siberian woodland form; (4) S. pribilofensis from St. Paul Island.Of these forms, the last three are closer to one another and probably evolved in Beringia, whereas the Nearctic woodland forms probably evolved south of the Laurentide and Cordilleran ice sheets and dispersed into the Beringian area only since deglaciation.