[3] Of the five upper unicuspids the third is distinctly smaller than the fourth, and they have a pigmented ridge extending to the cingulum. View the article PDF and any associated supplements and figures for a period of 48 hours. Their available habitat continues to degrade as a result of economic activity in the area; with little chance of the trend reversing, they are rare in that part of Canada. x��\Y��~_`�C?���� ̴v1���`��0d=YA� �����Շb��YM�U�b�W�Z^~Z^__~\����u��[���?��ӿ����_������#������#�!a�|�����w�O�ۏ� ���/�~��|��������������A*�ˇߟ����h���R �|��=�������W���ʤ��c�짶���?y���}~�Wf?�������Oo�o�M�)�)���o�o��nm��ڈ@�.�$#y+����H���}^���f]�n��]/�}��LG�G With air trapped in its fur for buoyancy, marsh shrews can run for three to five seconds on top of the water. [4] The American water shrew has a smaller skull, without the marsh shrew's characteristic curvature, and its upper incisors have less-distinct medial tines. COSEWIC designated the marsh shrew as "Threatened" from April 1994 until May 2000, updating its status in April 2006 to "Endangered. The former is found in a narrower area from the northwest coast to the lower slopes of the inland mountains. Variations in the sequencing of cytochrome b mitochondrial DNA were assessed, and the results of the 2005 phylogeny for the marsh shrew are shown below in detail. [3] Nests in the wild, built from shredded bark,[3] are in a tunnel or under a log. 1 0 obj The marsh shrew (Sorex bendirii), also known as the Pacific water shrew, Bendire's water shrew, Bendire's shrew and Jesus shrew is the largest North American member of the genus Sorex (long-tailed shrews). [9] Merriam obtained the specimen from Charles Bendire, an ornithologist and army captain stationed at Fort Klamath. [3], Marsh shrews typically live in wetlands (such as marshes), and their habitat includes extensive forest canopy and ground cover from shrubs, logs, and debris;[3] they may also be found in riparian environments. It was feared that they may have suffered similar [14] The subspecies S. b. albiventer is found on the Olympic Peninsula. Learn about our remote access options. [1] Although the marsh shrew's fur is usually uniformly dark on its back and abdomen,[4] the abdominal fur of populations (S. b. albiventer) on the Olympic Peninsula may be white. [22] Landing in water, it dives beneath the surface. Shrews inhabit a wide range of habitats across the globe. [3], During spring and summer 1983, biologists in western Oregon studied small-mammal distribution (including marsh shrews) near streams and along the riparian fringes of coniferous forests. [12], S. b. albiventer is found on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington, S . [18] In contrast, the American water shrew has been observed killing and eating fish. endobj Its descriptions in the literature were largely derived from the examination of museum specimens. 4 0 obj [14] In British Columbia the eastern limits are the Chilliwack River and Agassiz, and the northern limits are the low elevations on the north shore of Burrard Inlet. For Pacific Water Shrew, habitat necessary for survival is based on known occurrences, and habitat necessary for recovery is related to historical and high-suitability sites needed to maintain a self-sustaining viable population. [4] Its size distinguishes it from all but the American water shrew (Sorex palustris). There were no signs of habitat avoidance in response to human disturbance but Water Shrews were absent from the river catchment with lowest water quality. <> [20] Other researchers have reported that their diet may also include aquatic insects (water beetles and stonefly nymphs), craneflies, ground beetles, spiders, harvestmen, centipedes, earthworms, slugs and small terrestrial snails. [10] The shrew was caught in late July or early August by one of the dogs in the camp, and a soldier gave it to Bendire. [14] On land, its foreleg and opposite hind leg move at the same time. [3] Its fur is primarily dark brown, and it has a long tail. According to the IUCN, marsh shrews are of "Least Concern" in terms of conservation. Primarily covered in dark-brown fur, it is found near aquatic habitats along the Pacific coast from southern British Columbia to northern California. Unlimited viewing of the article/chapter PDF and any associated supplements and figures. [12], The geographic range of the marsh shrew extends from southwest British Columbia, along the western regions of the U.S. states of Washington and Oregon and through northwestern California to the area north of San Francisco. The full text of this article hosted at iucr.org is unavailable due to technical difficulties. [18] A study of the gastric contents of marsh shrews in Oregon indicated that at least 25% of their diet is aquatic,[19] including insect larvae, slugs and snails, mayfly naiads and other, unidentified invertebrates. Unlimited viewing of the article PDF and any associated supplements and figures. [1], Data related to Sorex bendirii at Wikispecies, sfn error: no target: CITEREFHutterer2005 (, Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada, "Elemental Analysis Of Soricine Enamel: Pigmentation Variation and Distribution in Molars of, "Accounts and Measures for Managing Identified Wildlife", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Marsh_shrew&oldid=987402842, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 6 November 2020, at 20:21. [12] Findley hypothesized that in the early Pleistocene, the ancestors of masked and vagrant shrews (Sorex cinereus and Sorex vagrans, respectively) diverged;[13] during the Yarmouth interglacial, the American water shrew and marsh shrew diverged from their vagrant-shrew ancestors. They are also able to hunt for food in water and will catch shrimps and caddis fly larvae as well as small frogs and fish. Primarily covered in dark-brown fur, it is found near aquatic habitats along the Pacific coast from southern British Columbia to northern California. Some of the different ecosystems that they inhabit include marshes, meadows, grasslands, forests, woodlands, and more. [3] There is a large medial tine on the large upper incisor, in the anterior pigmented region. Merriam named it Bendire's shrew (Atophyrax bendirii) in appreciation of Bendire's contribution. The total length of a water shrew can range between 130 and 170 mm, and the weight ranges from 8 to 18 grams. Distribution of the Shrew. They prefer hiding underground or beneath piles of vegetation. [3] The reddish pigmentation of the enamel, the result of iron deposits, is thought to be an adaptation strengthening the enamel.