%0 Journal Article %A LIU Shaoying %A LIU Yang %A SUN Zhiyu %A TU Feiyun %A ZHU Tianhui %T Phallic morphology of six species of Soricid shrew %D 2010 %R %J ACTA THERIOLOGICA SINICA %P 278-282 %V 30 %N 3 %X The features of phallic morphology are powerful tools in understanding the phylogenetics of relationships in many
mammalian species,especially sibling species. However,the traits of phallic morphology within the Soricidae remain poorly known. In this study, phallic morphological features from thirty-one penis specimens representing six species within the Soricidae were investigated and sketched. The results showed that the baculum of these penis specimens was absent as shown by examination of tissue sections. The urethra was dorsal to the corpus cavernosum which partially surrounds it,and no single corpus spongiosum urethra was present. The spermaducts were surrounded by the cavernous body of penis,and two branches of the spermaducts were conjoined in the distal part of the penes in these six species. A lingulate structure might be regarded as a unique feature within Blarinella quadraticauda,which was treated as a taxonomic criterion to identify this species. Within Sorex (Sorex bedfordiae,S. cylindricauda,S. excelsus), the boundary line of the glans penes was hardly observed. In contrast, the boundary line of glans penes was observed significantly within Blarinella(B. quadraticauda), Anourosorex (Anourosorex squamipes) and Crocidura (Crocidura attenuata).
%U http://www.mammal.cn/EN/abstract/article_2342.shtml