West Indies shrew
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| iWest Indies shrew | ||||||||||||
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 Nesophontes edithae
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Extinct (early 16th century)
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Nesophontes edithae |
The West Indies shrews were members of the extinct family of mammals Nesophontidae in the order Insectivora. Only one genus, Nesophontes, has been described for this family. These animals were endemic to Cuba, Hispaniola (Dominican Republic and Haiti), Puerto Rico and the Cayman Islands. Although exact estimates are unavailable these animals are widely believed to have survived the Pleistocene extinction since remains have been found among those of Rattus and Mus species. Some authorities estimate extinction coinciding with the arrivals of rats (Rattus spp.) aboard Spanish vessels in the early 16th century (1500). Others, such as Morgan and Woods, claim that some species survived until the early 20th century.[1]
The West Indies shrews have only been described from fossil records and skeletal material in owl pellets found in the Greater Antilles. Recent efforts to locate surviving populations have been unsuccessful.[2]
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[edit] Nesophontes genus
Nesophontes is the only genus of the extinct family of mammals Nesophontidae. These animals were insectivores.
Since Nesophontes species have only been observed through fossil records the exact number of species varies among authorities. Some claim as many as 12 valid species while other claim as few as six. Eight valid species (listed below) are described in the ITIS database.[3]
- Puerto Rican shrew (Nesophontes edithae)
- Atalaye shrew (Nesophontes hypomicrus)
- Slender Cuban shrew (Nesophontes longirostris)
- Greater Cuban shrew (Nesophontes major )
- Western Cuban shrew (Nesophontes micrus)
- St. Michel shrew (Nesophontes paramicrus)
- Lesser Cuban shrew (Nesophontes submicrus)
- Haitian shrew (Nesophontes zamicrus)
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Morgan, G. S., and C. A. Woods. 1986. Extinction and the zoogeography of West Indian land mammals. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 28:167-203.
- ^ Woods, C. A., J. A. Ottenwalder, and W. L. R. Oliver. 1985. Lost mammals of the Greater Antilles: summarized findings of a ten week field survey in the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Puerto Rico. Dodo (Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust), 22:23-42.
- ^ ITIS Standard Report Page: Nesophontes
