Lowe's Shrew (Soriculus parca)
Description:
The species' colour has been characterised as "dark mouse gray" by Allen (1923), with feet distinctly brown with touches of white. This shrew measures approximately 70 mm, compared to 80 mm in the larger species, C. smithii.
Range Description:
This species ranges from South Western China (Sichuan, Guizhou
and Yunnan) to Northern and Eastern Myanmar, Northern Thailand and
Northern Viet Nam (Hutterer 2005; Smith et al. 2008). It presumably also occurs
in Lao PDR, though there have not so far been any records. Its elevational range
is 1,500 to 3,000 m asl.
Countries: Native:
China; Myanmar; Thailand; Vietnam
Population:
The abundance and population size of this species are not
known.
Population Trend: Unknown
Habitat and Ecology:
Specimens collected from near the Chinese border in
Vietnam were from montane bamboo forests between 1,500-2,000 m asl, and in
Western Yunnan they have been recorded up to 3,000 m (Smith et al. 2008). It is
not known whether or not it can adapt to disturbed habitats. The species can be
mistaken for C. smithii due to similar external dimensions, but in C.
parca, the skull, ears and feet are relatively smaller than those of smithii
(Allen 1923). The species' colour has been characterised as "dark mouse gray" by
Allen (1923), with feet distinctly brown with touches of white. This shrew
measures approximately 70 mm, compared to 80 mm in the larger species, C.
smithii.
Systems: Terrestrial
Major Threat(s):
The threats to this species are not known. If it is dependent
on forest, then it might be impacted by forest loss in some parts of its range.
Conservation Actions:
It presumably occurs in several protected areas. Further studies are needed on the distribution, abundance, natural history, threats and conservation needs of this species.