Neomys fodiens (*)
Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Megaclassis: Osteichthyes
Cladus: Sarcopterygii
Cladus: Rhipidistia
Cladus: Tetrapodomorpha
Cladus: Eotetrapodiformes
Cladus: Elpistostegalia
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Cladus: Synapsida
Cladus: Eupelycosauria
Cladus: Sphenacodontia
Cladus: Sphenacodontoidea
Cladus: Therapsida
Cladus: Theriodontia
Cladus: Cynodontia
Cladus: Eucynodontia
Cladus: Probainognathia
Cladus: Prozostrodontia
Cladus: Mammaliaformes
Classis: Mammalia
Subclassis: Trechnotheria
Infraclassis: Zatheria
Supercohors: Theria
Cohors: Eutheria
Infraclassis: Placentalia
Cladus: Boreoeutheria
Superordo: Laurasiatheria
Ordo: Eulipotyphla
Familia: Soricidae
Subfamilia: Soricinae
Tribus: Nectogalini
Genus: Neomys
Species: Neomys fodiens
Name
Neomys fodiens (Pennant, 1771)
Type locality: Berlin, Germany
Holotype: ZMB-62470
Synonyms
Neomys albiventris (de Sélys Longchamps, 1839)
Neomys albus (Bechstein, 1800)
Neomys argenteus Ognev, 1922
Neomys fluviatilis (Bechstein, 1793)
Neomys griseogularis (Fitzinger, 1868)
Neomys intermedius Brunner, 1952
Neomys leucotis (de Sélys Longchamps, 1839)
Neomys limchunhunii Won, 1954
Neomys longobarda (Sordelli, 1899)
Neomys nigricans (Nilsson, 1845)
Neomys orientalis Hinton, 1915
Neomys niethammeri Bühler, 1963
Neomys stresemanni Stein, 1931
Neomys watasei Kishida, 1930
Neomys fodiens alpestris Burg, 1924
Neomys fodiens bicolor (Shaw, 1791)
Neomys fodiens brachyotus Ognev, 1922
Neomys fodiens dagestanicus Heptner & Formozov, 1928
Neomys fodiens naias Barrett-Hamilton, 1905
Neomys fodiens minor Miller, 1901
Neomys fodiens nanus Lydekker, 1906
Neomys fodiens orientis Thomas, 1914
Neomys fodiens watasei Kuroda, 1941
Sorex aquaticus (Müller, 1776)
Sorex canicularius (Bechstein, 1800)
Sorex carinatus (Hermann, 1780)
Sorex ciliatus (Sowerby, 1805)
Sorex collaris (Desmarest, 1818)
Sorex daubentonii (Erxleben, 1777)
Sorex eremita (Meyer, 1793)
Sorex fimbriatus (Fitzinger, 1868)
Sorex fodiens Pennant, 1771
Sorex hermanni (Duvernoy, 1835)
Sorex hydrophilus (Pallas, 1811)
Sorex intermedius (Cornalia, 1870)
Sorex lineatus (E. Geoffroy, 1811)
Sorex liricaudatus (Kerr, 1792)
Sorex macrourus (Lehmann, 1822)
Sorex musculus (Wagler, 1832)
Sorex natans (Brehm, 1826)
Sorex nigripes (Melchior, 1834)
Sorex psilurus (Wagler, 1832)
Sorex remifer (E. Geoffroy, 1811)
Sorex rivalis (Brehm, 1830)
Sorex stagnatilis (Brehm, 1826)
Crosopus ignotus Fatio, 1905
Crossopus sowerbyi (Bonaparte, 1840)
Amphisorex linneana (Gray, 1838)
Amphisorex pennantii (Gray, 1838)
References
Pennant, T. 1771. Synopsis of Quadrupeds. J. Monk, Chester, 308 pp.
Neomys fodiens in Mammal Species of the World.
Wilson, Don E. & Reeder, DeeAnn M. (Editors) 2005. Mammal Species of the World – A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. Third edition. ISBN 0-8018-8221-4.
IUCN: Neomys fodiens (Pennant, 1771) (Least Concern)
Neomys fodiens (Pennant, 1771) – Taxon details on Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS).
Vernacular names
беларуская: Кутора звычайная
dansk: Vandspidsmus
Deutsch: Eurasische Wasserspitzmaus
English: Eurasian Water Shrew, Northern Water Shrew, Water Shrew
español: Musgaño Patiblanco
eesti: Vesimutt
suomi: Vesipäästäinen
français: Crossope Aquatique
magyar: Közönséges vízicickány
polski: Rzęsorek rzeczek
svenska: Vattennäbbmus
The Eurasian water shrew (Neomys fodiens), known in the United Kingdom as the water shrew, is a relatively large shrew, up to 10 cm (4 in) long, with a tail up to three-quarters as long again. It has short, dark fur, often with a few white tufts, a white belly, and a few stiff hairs around the feet and tail. It lives close to fresh water, hunting aquatic prey in the water and nearby. Its fur traps bubbles of air in the water which greatly aids its buoyancy, but requires it to anchor itself to remain underwater for more than the briefest of dives.
Like many shrews, the water shrew has venomous saliva, making it one of the few venomous mammals, although it is not able to puncture the skin of large animals, nor that of humans. Highly territorial, it lives a solitary life and is found throughout the northern part of Europe and Asia, from Britain to Korea.
Description
The Eurasian water shrew grows to a length of about 10 cm (4 in) long with a tail length of 8 cm (3 in) and weight of 15 to 19 grams (1⁄2 to 5⁄8 oz). The dense short fur on the head, back and sides is greyish-black. The underparts are dirty white and are sharply demarcated from the dorsal surface. Sometimes they are tinged with rusty brown or occasionally are entirely dark grey. There is a white spot just behind the eye and often another near the small, rounded ear which is nearly hidden in the fur. The nose is black and the snout long and tapering.[4] The sharp, mostly white teeth are tipped with red, typical of the shrew subfamily Soricinae. The rusty colour comes from deposits of iron which serve to harden the enamel and which are concentrated in the tips of the teeth, particularly the molars which are the teeth most subject to wear.[5] The female has five pairs of nipples. The legs are short and the hind feet are powerful, with a fringe of short, stiff hairs on the outer edge, both of which features assist while it is driving its body through the water. The tail is slender and has a keel of short white hairs on the underside.[4] This shrew often utters shrill cries as it scurries about.[4]
Its karyotype has 2n = 52 and FN = 98.[1]
Distribution and habitat
The Eurasian water shrew is found throughout Europe with the exception of Iceland, Ireland, certain Mediterranean islands and the Balkans.[4] In Asia, its range extends from western Siberia and Asia Minor to North Korea and the Pacific coast of Siberia.[6] It rarely strays far from water and is found in and around ditches, streams, ponds, watercress beds, fish ponds, damp meadows and rough bushy ground adjoining water.[4]
Biology
Outside the breeding season, both male and female Eurasian water shrews maintain a territory but during the breeding season, only the females do so. At this time the males wander about visiting various female territories which indicates a promiscuous mating system without pair bonding.[7] On the whole they are solitary animals that seem to mutually avoid each other and there is no social hierarchy.[6]
The breeding season extends from April to September and much of the courtship takes place in the water. It either uses pre-existing burrows or digs its own. The nesting chamber is lined with moss, dry grass and leaves. Litters of four to eight or more young are born after a twenty-four-day gestation period. The young are tiny and helpless at birth. Their eyes open at fifteen to eighteen days and they are fully weaned at about seven weeks. Females can produce two or three litters a year.[4] The juveniles disperse after weaning, setting up their own territories.[7] They are sexually mature at six to eight months and their life expectancy is about three years.[6]
The Eurasian water shrew is active both night and day and is thoroughly at home in the water. Its short fur holds air and the skin does not get wet when it swims. When it emerges from the water it enters one of its many burrows and any moisture adhering to the fur is absorbed by the earth walls. It mostly feeds on aquatic organisms which are caught while it is swimming. It can remain underwater for twenty seconds before it has to surface to breathe. Larger prey items can be subdued by the toxic secretions from its submaxillary glands. They feed on crayfish, Freshwater snails, small fish, aquatic larvae, insects, spiders, amphibians, especially newts and small rodents are also eaten. It also feeds on land on such things as insect larvae.[6] According to a study, N. fodiens showed a higher consumption frequency of small invertebrates (larvae) compared to medium-sized earthworms and beetles. Additionally, medium-sized prey were consumed more gradually than small prey items (earthworms versus larvae and earthworms versus beetles). [8]
The Eurasian water shrew has a pair of glands under its jaw which produce venom, and this has been shown to be potent against the field vole (Microtus agrestis), and lethal at a minimum dose of fifteen milligrams per kilogram body weight.[9] The venom consists of a paralytic peptide which has been patented for use in neuromuscular therapy.[10] Overall, the Eurasian water shrew venom has stronger paralytic properties and lower cardioinhibitory activity. Thus acting as an immobilizing agent towards their prey or to organisms that may threathen them.[11]
Their behavior in captivity is described in Konrad Lorenz's book King Solomon's Ring.
Status
The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists the Eurasian water shrew as being of "Least concern" in its Red List of Threatened Species. This is because it has a large population distributed across a wide range and its population seems fairly stable. In some areas habitat degradation is occurring and wetlands are being drained but not to such an extent as to increase the status to "Vulnerable". Other possible threats include agricultural products and sewage which may pollute waterways and reduce the availability of food. In western Spain, a separate subspecies (N. f. niethammeri) has a very limited range and may be declining in numbers.[2]
References
Hutterer, R. (2005). "Order Soricomorpha". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 279. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
Hutterer, R.; Meinig, H.; Bertolino, S.; Kryštufek, B.; Amori, A.; Sheftel, B.; Stubbe, M.; Samiya, R.; Ariunbold, J. & Buuveibaatar, V. (2017) [errata version of 2016 assessment]. "Neomys fodiens". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T29658A115170106. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T29658A22282586.en.
Buchanan White, F. (1882). "The Mammalia of Scotland". The Scottish Naturalist. 6: 49.
Konig, Claus (1973). Mammals. Collins & Co. pp. 23–26. ISBN 978-0-00-212080-7.
Strait, S. G.; Smith, S. C. (2006). "Elemental analysis of soricine enamel: pigmentation variation and distribution in molars of Blarina brevicauda". Journal of Mammalogy. 87 (4): 700–705. doi:10.1644/05-MAMM-A-265R4.1.
Fahey, Bridget (1999). "Neomys fodiens: Eurasian water shrew". Animal Diversity Web. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. Retrieved 30 August 2013.
Cantoni, Debora (1993). "Social and spatial organization of free-ranging shrews, Sorex coronatus and Neomys fodiens (Insectivora, Mammalia)". Animal Behaviour. 45 (5): 975–995. doi:10.1006/anbe.1993.1116. S2CID 53162373.
Kowalski, Krzysztof; Rychlik, Leszek (2018-04-03). "The role of venom in the hunting and hoarding of prey differing in body size by the Eurasian water shrew, Neomys fodiens". Journal of Mammalogy. 99 (2): 351–362. doi:10.1093/jmammal/gyy013. ISSN 0022-2372.
Dufton, Mark J. (1992). "Venomous mammals". Pharmacology & Therapeutics. 53 (2): 199–215. doi:10.1016/0163-7258(92)90009-O. PMID 1641406.
"Patent: Paralytic peptide for use in neuromuscular therapy". Patent 7485622. United States Patent Office. 3 February 2009. Retrieved 30 August 2013.[dead link]
Kowalski, Marciniak, P., Rosiński, G., & Rychlik, L (2017). "Evaluation of the physiological activity of venom from the Eurasian water shrew Neomys fodiens". Frontiers in Zoology. 14 (1): 46. doi:10.1186/s12983-017-0230-0. PMC 5622582. PMID 29026428.
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/"
All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License
