Asian House Shrew

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Asian House Shrew[1]

Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Soricomorpha
Family: Soricidae
Genus: Suncus
Species: S. murinus
Binomial name
Suncus murinus
(Linnaeus, 1766)

The Asian House Shrew (Suncus murinus) is a species of shrew found in South Asia.

This species is locally called Chuchunder and is mentioned in Rudyard Kipling's Jungle book by the name of Chuchundra. It has a habit of running slowly along the edges of the walls when they enter human habitations. It is widespread and found in all habitats including deserts and human habitations.[3] Studies on this shrew have suggested its suitability for use in laboratory studies.[4]

Illustration of the habit of travelling in family parties from Edward Hamilton Aitken
Illustration of the habit of travelling in family parties from Edward Hamilton Aitken

[edit] References

  1. ^ Hutterer, Rainer (2005-11-16). in Wilson, D. E., and Reeder, D. M. (eds): Mammal Species of the World, 3rd edition, Johns Hopkins University Press, 260-261. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. 
  2. ^ Insectivore Specialist Group (1996). Suncus murinus. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 2006-05-12. Database entry includes a brief justification of why this species is of least concern
  3. ^ Advani R, Rana BD. (1981). "Food of the house shrew, Suncus murinus sindensis, in the Indian desert". Acta Theriologica 27: 133–134. 
  4. ^ Temple, J. L. (2004). "The Musk Shrew (Suncus murinus): A Model Species for Studies of Nutritional Regulation of Reproduction". ILAR Journal 45 (1): 25–34. 
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