Sorex alaskanus

• Main Authors: Russell A. Mittermeier, Don E. Wilson
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: unknown
• Published: Lynx Edicions 2018
• Subjects: Biodiversity; Taxonomy; Animalia; Chordata; Mammalia; Soricomorpha; Soricidae; Sorex; Sorex alaskanus; Glacier Bay; glacier; Alaska
• Online Access: https://zenodo.org/record/6869752; https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6869752

79. Glacier Bay Water Shrew Sorex alaskanus French: Musaraigne de Glacier Bay / German: Alaska-\Wasserspitzmaus / Spanish: Musgaro de los Glaciares Taxonomy. Sorex navigator alaskanus Merriam, 1900, “ Point Gustavus, Glacier Bay, Alaska,” USA. Sorex alaskanus is in the S. palustris group and subgenus Otisorex. It is occasionally in- cluded in S. palustris, although there have been no recent studies to determine its specific status, and based on skulls from the type series, S. alaskanus is distinguishable from S. palustris and S. navigator. Monotypic. Distribution. Flats around Gustavus and Bartlett coves in SE Alaska. Descriptive notes. Head—body 80-88 mm, tail 65-72 mm, hindfoot 18:5-19 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. The Glacier Bay Water Shrew is large, externally similar to the American Water Shrew (S. palustris). Dorsum pelage is dark blackish brown, and venter is paler silvery gray. Feet are large and broad, and hindfeet are partially webbed and have small white hairs protruding on their sides. Tail is long, somewhat laterally flattened, and bicolored, being dark blackish brown above and lighter below, with small tip of fur at end. Glacier Bay Water Shrews are smaller than other water shrews in the S. palustris group and have more ridged skulls. Teeth are pigmented dark red. There are five unicuspids, third is smaller than fourth, and fifth is much smaller. Habitat. Probably wet areas such as bogs, marshes, and streams,similarly to the American Water Shrew. Food and Feeding. No information. Breeding. No information. Activity patterns. Glacier Bay Water Shrews are semi-aquatic. Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information. Status and Conservation. Classified as Data Deficient on The IUCN Red List. The Glacier Bay Water Shrew is apparently only known from a few specimens collected in 1899 and 1970 from a very restricted locality, although it might have a larger distribution than currently known. Itis found in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, but urban development ...