Crocidura phanluongi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Crocidura phanluongi |
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Crocidura
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phanluongi
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Crocidura phanluongi is a small mammal known as a shrew. It belongs to the group of shrews called Crocidura. This shrew lives in southern Vietnam and nearby Cambodia. It is a small, gray shrew that can be found in many different types of forest environments.
How Scientists Study This Shrew (Taxonomy)
Taxonomy is the way scientists name and classify living things. The Crocidura phanluongi shrew was first found in 2006. It was discovered in Virachey National Park in northeastern Cambodia. Later, in 2007, more of these shrews were found in three different places in southern Vietnam.
In 2010, a group of scientists, including Paulina Jenkins, officially described it as a brand new species of shrew. The main place where it was found and studied is called the type locality. This was Yok Đôn National Park in Đắk Lắk Province, Vietnam. The scientific description was published on January 27, 2010, in a science journal called Zootaxa.
The specific name, phanluongi, was chosen to honor a Vietnamese biologist named Phan Luong. He was part of the team that helped discover this shrew.
What Does This Shrew Look Like? (Description)
The Crocidura phanluongi is a small to medium-sized shrew. It has a tail that is quite long compared to its body. Its fur is dark gray on its back and a bit lighter gray on its belly. The top parts of its feet are even lighter in color. Shrews found in Cambodia might have slightly different colors, appearing gray-brown on top and silver-gray underneath.
Scientists measure different parts of the shrew to tell them apart. Here are some average measurements:
- Its head and body together are about 59.6 mm (2.35 inches) long. This is roughly the length of a small matchbox.
- Its tail is about 44.4 mm (1.75 inches) long.
- Its hindfoot is about 11.7 mm (0.46 inches) long.
- The length of its skull is about 17.4 mm (0.69 inches).
Inside its skull, the area between its eyes is narrow. It also has specific features on its teeth, like a slender upper third molar and a reduced part on its lower third molar. These small details help scientists identify the species.
Where It Lives and What It Does (Ecology and Behavior)
Crocidura phanluongi lives in a fairly wide area. It can be found across at least three different ecoregions. These are areas with similar climates, plants, and animals. The regions include the southeastern Indochina dry evergreen forests, the central Indochina dry forests, and the southern Vietnam lowland dry forests. All the shrews that have been studied were found living in forest environments.
