Discovering the taiga shrew (Sorex isodon Turov, 1924) in Ushachy district of Vitebsk Region

• Main Author: Саварин, А.А.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: Russian; English
• Published: Витебский государственный университет имени П. М. Машерова 2022
• Subjects: Vitebsk Region; Lakes Borkovshchina and Dolzhina; Sorex isodon; species diagnostics; exterior and craniometric characteristics; Витебская область; озера Борковщина и Должина; видовая диагностика; экстерьерные и краниометрические характеристики; Group Lakes; taiga
• Online Access: https://journals.vsu.by/index.php/vestnikvgu/article/view/1805

Taiga shrew (Sorex isodon Turov, 1924) is one of the least studied Belarusian theriofauna aboriginal species with single finds in the country. The purpose of the work is to indicate the shrew new registration place, to draw the theriologists attention to the expanded monitoring studies need near Ushachy Lake Group complex in Vitebsk Region. Material and methods. The material was collected on 07/30/2020. Large-diameter cut PET bottles were used to catch the animals. The traps were dug on the left bank of the binnacle which connects Lakes Borkovshchina and Dolzhinas, on the basin swampy part. Findings and their discussion. The article analyzes the capture of one Taiga shrew individual (Sorex isodon) in the swampy part of Ushach lake group basin, near the village of Vashkovo. The geographic coordinates of the capture place are 55.107113° 28.599686°. The main exterior and craniometric characteristics of the analyzed immature female are the following: the body mass is 8,77 g, the body length is 61 mm, the tail length is 45 mm, the foot length is 13,5 mm; the coat color is brown with a pinkish tinge; a tetrahedral tail with a tassel at the end; the condylobasal length is 19,16 mm, the skull width is 9,91 mm, the lower jaw height is 4,83 mm; the fifth intermediate tooth in the upper jaw is well expressed and intensely colored; the coronoid process apex is rounded. Conclusion. The discovery of S. isodon is the most northern in Belarus. It should be assumed that Taiga shrew can inhabit other Ushachy lake group lakes coasts swampy areas. Бурозубка равнозубая (Sorex isodon Turov, 1924) ‒ один из наименее изученных аборигенных видов териофауны Беларуси, с единичными находками на территории страны. Цель работы ‒ указать место новой регистрации этой землеройки, обратить внимание териологов на необходимость расширенных мониторинговых исследований у комплекса озер Ушачской группы в Витебской области. Материал и методы. Материал собран 30.07.2020. Для отлова зверька использовались обрезанные ПЭТ-бутылки большого диаметра. ...