Taxonomic status of Suncus etruscus in China and the first record of the genus Suncus from the Xizang Autonomous Region

LIU Qing; PENG Buqing; DENG Yu; LIU Shuang; WANG Jing; GUO Keji; GUO Xianglong; Abu ul Hassan Faiz; LIU Shaoying; CHEN Shunde

doi:10.16829/j.slxb.151089

2026 , Vol. 46 >Issue 4: 544 - 554

DOI: https://doi.org/10.16829/j.slxb.151089

ORIGINAL PAPERS

Taxonomic status of Suncus etruscus in China and the first record of the genus Suncus from the Xizang Autonomous Region

LIU Qing ,
PENG Buqing ,
DENG Yu ,
LIU Shuang ,
WANG Jing ,
GUO Keji ,
GUO Xianglong ,
Abu ul Hassan Faiz ,
LIU Shaoying ,
CHEN Shunde

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1 College of Life Sciences, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu 610101, China;
2 Sichuan Academy of Forestry, Chengdu 610081, China;
3 Central South Inventory and Planning Institute of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Changsha 410014, China;
4 School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China;
5 Shan Shui Conservation Center, Beijing 100871, China;
6 Department of Zoology, Women University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Bagh 13000, Pakistan

Received date: 2025-04-15

Revised date: 2025-06-02

Online published: 2025-06-02

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Abstract

Suncus etruscus (Savi 1822) is among the smallest known mammals. In October 2024, a specimen of the genus Suncus was collected from Delgong Village (29°08'32″N, 95°15'29″E) in Motuo County, Nyingchi City, Xizang Autonomous Region. This represents the first record of the genus Suncus in Xizang. The external morphology of the specimen is generally consistent with previous descriptions of S. etruscus. However, phylogenetic analysis based on mitochondrial Cyt b gene showed that this specimen clusters with the clade formed by S. malayanus and S. fellowesgordoni, with average genetic distances of 8. 5% and 8. 9%, respectively. The genetic distance between this specimen and the near-type-locality sample of S. etruscus from Italy was 10. 3%, indicating a significant genetic divergence. This finding suggests that the S. etruscus distributed in China has certain differentiation from those in other regions. Given the rarity of specimens, the taxonomic status of the species in China needs to be further studied. Additionally, in 2022, we received a S. etruscus specimen from Jammu and Kashmir. Phylogenetic analysis based on the mitochondrial Cyt b gene revealed that it forms a monophyletic clade with the Madagascan subspecies of the Etruscan shrew (S. e. madagascariensis), with an average genetic distance of 1. 6%. We confirm that the specimen from Pakistan is S. e. madagascariensis.

Key words： Suncus; New record; Phylogeny; Motuo

Cite this article

LIU Qing , PENG Buqing , DENG Yu , LIU Shuang , WANG Jing , GUO Keji , GUO Xianglong , Abu ul Hassan Faiz , LIU Shaoying , CHEN Shunde . Taxonomic status of Suncus etruscus in China and the first record of the genus Suncus from the Xizang Autonomous Region[J]. ACTA THERIOLOGICA SINICA, 2026 , 46(4) : 544 -554 . DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.151089

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