CLASSIFICATION OF SOREX : SHREW
PHYLUM :- CHORDATA (Notochord, dorsal tubular nerve cord present and gill slits present )
Group :- CRANIATA ( Definite head. Cranium with brain present )
Sub-phylum :- VERTEBRATA ( vertebral column present)
Division :- GNATHOSTOMATA ( Jaws and paired appendages present )
Super class :- TETRAPODA ( Paired limbs, lungs, bony skeleton and cornified skin).
Class :-MAMMALIA ( Body covered with hairs. females have mammary glands ).
Sub-class :- THERIA ( Viviparous ).
Infra class :- EUTHERIA ( Placental mammals, vagina single ).
Order :- INSECTIVORA ( Feeds on insect ).
Genus : Sorex
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION
Sorex is found throughout the world.
HABIT AND HABITAT
It lives in burrows feeding voraciously on insects, small invertebrates and some rodents.
GENERAL CHARACTERSTICS OF SOREX : SHREW
- Commonly called as shrew.
- These animals have long, pointed snouts, small ears, which are often not visible, and scent glands located on the sides of their bodies fur (pelage).
- Body divided into head, trunk, abdomen and tail. Head contains snout, eyes and vibrisae or moustaches.
- Snout is elongated and contains several moustaches.
- Eyes are small, rudimentary and not covered. Pinnae absent.
- Their eyesight is generally poor, they rely on hearing and smell to locate their prey, mainly insects. Some species also use echolocation.
- Elongated tail is covered with scales.
- Mammary gland with definite teats present.
- Forelimbs and hind limbs well developed.
Special features
Sorex is a very ancient genus, found from Miocene onwards. It has undergone little change. It shows all primitive Eutherian characters as mentioned for Hedgehog and Mole.
Identification
Since this mammal has steel grey fur and above features, hence it is Sorex.
REFERENCES
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sorex
- https://www.britannica.com/animal/shrew
- Book of Practical Zoology VERTEBRATE by S.S.LAL – Rastogi Publications.
- https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.scientificamerican.com%2Farticle%2Fsmall-minded-strategy-the-common-shrew-shrinks-its-head-to-survive-winter%2F&psig=AOvVaw1USsD6VmoiuTztQRRd7djt&ust=1602830717719000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=2ahUKEwju6eTt_7XsAhWYLLcAHYjZCC0Qr4kDegUIARCzAQSOURCES OF IMAGES-
- https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sciencemag.org%2Fnews%2F2017%2F10%2Fmeet-shrew-incredible-shrinking-head&psig=AOvVaw1USsD6VmoiuTztQRRd7djt&ust=1602830717719000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=2ahUKEwju6eTt_7XsAhWYLLcAHYjZCC0Qr4kDegUIARCpAQ
