Guy’s Shrew – Crocidura guy – Jenkins, Lunde & Moncrieff, 2009

Science name: Crocidura guy – Jenkins, Lunde & Moncrieff, 2009

Taxonomic:  Animalia>> Chordata>> Mammalia>> Soricomorpha >> Soricidae >> guy

Species status: Endemic ; IUCN status: LC (Least Concern)

Description:

Physical Characteristics:

Crocidura guy is a small shrew species, with limited specific data on its size, weight, and other physical characteristics. However, like many other Crocidura species, it likely possesses a slender body, elongated snout, and white-toothed dentition, features that are well-adapted for its insectivorous diet.
The shrew’s fur is likely dense and adapted for insulation, given its karst forest habitat, with a coloration blending with the forest floor, possibly in shades of gray or brown.

Distribution and habitat:

Altitude:
Crocidura guy has been recorded at altitudes ranging from 300 to 800 meters above sea level within its known habitat.

Range:
This species has only been documented in the Na Hang Nature Reserve in northern Vietnam. The reserve is known for its karstic limestone hills and tropical and subtropical evergreen and moist broadleaf forests. The distribution of Crocidura guy may be restricted to this area, and it could be endemic to the karst of Na Hang.

Habitat:
Crocidura guy inhabits rugged limestone hills and tropical evergreen forests. The reserve where it has been found contains areas of forest and land cleared for cultivation, though the specific habitat preferences of the species remain largely unknown. Its environment consists of dense undergrowth and leaf litter, typical of subtropical moist lowland forests.

Behaviour and ecology:

Lifestyle:
Very little is known about the behavior of Crocidura guy. It is presumed to have similar habits to other species in the Crocidura genus, likely being a terrestrial and nocturnal insectivore that forages in the leaf litter and undergrowth for insects and small invertebrates. Shrews of this genus are generally solitary and highly active, with fast metabolisms that require them to eat large amounts of food in proportion to their body weight.

Reproductive Practices:
No specific information is available on the reproductive biology of Crocidura guy. Given what is known about other Crocidura species, it is possible that females give birth to multiple litters throughout the year, with each litter containing several young. The gestation period is likely short, around three to four weeks.

Conservation and status:

IUCN Red List Category and Criteria:
Crocidura guy is listed as “Data Deficient” by the IUCN Red List due to the lack of information regarding its population size, distribution, and ecological requirements. The species has only been documented from one location, and there is a pressing need for further research to determine its status.

Threats:
The primary threat to Crocidura guy is habitat loss and degradation, primarily due to land clearing for agriculture within Na Hang Nature Reserve. Its dependence on forested areas and karstic environments makes it particularly vulnerable to habitat fragmentation and destruction.

Conservation Actions:
Further field surveys and studies are necessary to assess the population and distribution of Crocidura guy. Protecting its habitat within Na Hang Nature Reserve is crucial for its conservation. More information is needed to determine the specific ecological needs and threats facing this species.