Classification and distribution of Soricidae in Northeastern China

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  • (1 College of Life Science and Technology, Mudanjiang Normal University, Mudanjiang 157011, China)
    (2 College of Wildlife Resources, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China)

Online published: 2019-01-18

Abstract

We investigated Soricidae species in the Daxinganling Mountains (Huzhong, Tahe and Hulun Lake regions), the Xiaoxinganling Mountains (Luobei region) and the Changbaishan Mountains (Hengdaohezi, Sandaoguan, Mudanfeng, Phoenix Mountain and Xinbin regions). We collected 686 specimens of Soricidae. Morphological species identification was first performed using morphological characterization and morphometric measurements.  Phylogenetic trees and ABGD software were then used for species identification at the molecular level, based on the  cyt b gene complete sequence of mtDNA. Specimens comprise 2 species of Crocidura (C. lasiura and C. shantungensis) and 9 species of Sorex (S. mirabilis, S. caecutiens, S. isodon, S. tundrensis, S. unguiculatus, S. daphaenodon, S. gracillimus, S. roboratus and S. minutissimus). The distributions of C. lasiura and C. shantungensis were sympatric, and both representatives of Crocidura were distributed in closer proximity to human-occupied areas than were species of Sorex. The number of distributions of S. caecutiens, S. gracillimus and S. isodon was greater than the number of other species of Sorex. The number of distributions of S. mirabilis and S. roboratus were very low. S. tundrensis was captured only in the Hulun Lake region, and its distribution was sympatric with that of S. minutissimus. S. daphaenodon was captured only in the Daxinganling Mountains. We recorded external body measurements of specimens (body weight, head and body length, tail length, tail length/head and body length, hindfoot length and ear length) and cranial measurements (greatest length of skull, condyloincisive length, basal length, cranial breadth, height of the braincase, interorbital breadth, upper toothrow length, length of mandibular toothrow, anterior and posterior width of palate). The skull morphological features of 9 species of Sorex were photographed. The more obvious distinguishing features of each species were identified to establish a basis for morphological classification of Soricidae in Northeastern China.

Cite this article

LIU Zhu, ZHANG Junsheng, BAI Wei, LIU Huan, XIE Ruixue, YANG Xi, JIN Zhimin . Classification and distribution of Soricidae in Northeastern China[J]. ACTA THERIOLOGICA SINICA, 2019 , 39(1) : 8 -26 . DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.150120

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