Crocidura hikmiya
Encyclopedia
Crocidura hikmiya is a species
of shrew
that was recently (2007) described from the rainforest
s of Sri Lanka
, based on both morphological
and molecular data. Its closest sister species is the Sri Lankan Long-tailed Shrew
, another Sri Lankan crocidurine
shrew
that is restricted to the high-elevation habitats of the Central Highlands. C. hikmiya has a shorter tail than the Sri Lankan Long-tailed Shrew; most of the other characteristics that distinguish the two species are osteological
in nature .
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of shrew
Shrew
A shrew or shrew mouse is a small molelike mammal classified in the order Soricomorpha. True shrews are also not to be confused with West Indies shrews, treeshrews, otter shrews, or elephant shrews, which belong to different families or orders.Although its external appearance is generally that of...
that was recently (2007) described from the rainforest
Rainforest
Rainforests are forests characterized by high rainfall, with definitions based on a minimum normal annual rainfall of 1750-2000 mm...
s of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
, based on both morphological
Morphology (biology)
In biology, morphology is a branch of bioscience dealing with the study of the form and structure of organisms and their specific structural features....
and molecular data. Its closest sister species is the Sri Lankan Long-tailed Shrew
Sri Lankan Long-tailed Shrew
The Sri Lankan Long-tailed Shrew is a species of mammal in the Soricidae family. It is endemic to Sri Lanka. It is threatened by habitat loss.-References:* Insectivore Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 30 July 2007....
, another Sri Lankan crocidurine
White-toothed shrew
The white-toothed shrews or Crocidurinae are one of three subfamilies of the shrew family Soricidae.Unlike the red-toothed shrews, the outer layer of their teeth is white. These species are typically found in Africa and southern Europe and Asia...
shrew
Shrew
A shrew or shrew mouse is a small molelike mammal classified in the order Soricomorpha. True shrews are also not to be confused with West Indies shrews, treeshrews, otter shrews, or elephant shrews, which belong to different families or orders.Although its external appearance is generally that of...
that is restricted to the high-elevation habitats of the Central Highlands. C. hikmiya has a shorter tail than the Sri Lankan Long-tailed Shrew; most of the other characteristics that distinguish the two species are osteological
Osteology
Osteology is the scientific study of bones. A subdiscipline of anatomy, anthropology, and archeology, osteology is a detailed study of the structure of bones, skeletal elements, teeth, morphology, function, disease, pathology, the process of ossification , the resistance and hardness of bones , etc...
in nature .