Neomys fodiens

• 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; Neomys; Neomys fodiens; Pacific; ob river; Tundra; Siberia
• Online Access: https://zenodo.org/record/6869966; https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6869966

181. Eurasian Water Shrew Neomys fodiens French: Crossope aquatique / German: \Wasserspitzmaus / Spanish: Musgano patiblanco Other common names: Northern Water Shrew, Water Shrew Taxonomy. Sorex fodiens Pennant, 1771, Berlin, Germany. Subspecies niethammeri in north-western Spain is morphologically distinct from other populations and may warrant species status. Further taxonomic research is needed. Four subspecies recognized. Subspecies and Distribution. N.f.fodiensPennant,1771—fromAtlanticcoastofcontinentalEuropeEtoObRiverandAltaisteppes(WSiberia). N.f.bicolorG.Shaw,1791—GreatBritain. N.f.niethammeriBuhler,1963—NSpain. N. f. orientis Thomas, 1914 — from Ob River and Altai steppes (W Siberia) E to Pacific coast. Descriptive notes. Head—body 75-103 mm,tail 58-73 mm, hindfoot 16-21 mm; weight 8-5-25 g. The Eurasian Water Shrew is large. Keel occurs along entire length oftail, and swimming borders on feet are well formed with long stiff hairs. Tail is usually longer than 65% of head-body length. Pelage is relatively short. Back and sides are black-brown or black, sometimes with weak grayish tint. Belly is silvery gray, sometimes with brownish tint. White spot behind eye is commonly distinct. Dark spot is occasionally found on chest and chin, varying in shape and size. Tail is bicolored, with dark color of back above contrasting with silvery gray of belly below. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 52 and FN = 98. X-chromosomeis large subtelocentric, Y-chromosome is small subtelocentric. There are 44 metacentric and submetacentric autosomes and SIX acrocentric autosomes. Habitat. Forest zone and foreststeppe and forest-tundra neighboring subzones. The Eurasian Water Shrew avoids extended wooded areas, especially coniferous forests with well-developed moss layer. It inhabits banks of streams and stagnant waters; riverside meadows with quiet pools or other regions of low water velocity are preferred. It is occasionally found far from the water, usually at sites with tall grasses, especially in desolated vegetable gardens ...