Hero shrew

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Hero shrew[1]
Temporal range: Recent

Conservation status

Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[2] Scientific classification Kingdom: Phylum: Class: Order: Family: Subfamily: Genus: Species: Animalia Chordata Mammalia Soricomorpha Soricidae Crocidurinae Scutisorex S. somereni Binomial name

Scutisorex somereni
(Thomas, 1910)

Armored shrew range

The hero shrew (Scutisorex somereni), also known as the armored shrew , is a large shrew native to Africa, which has a highly unusual spinal column. Its corrugated interlocking vertebrae are unique among mammals except for itssister species, the Thor's hero shrew.[3]

Contents
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1 Adaptations
o

1.1 Adaptive significance

2 References 3 External links

Adaptations[edit]

Specimen and partial skeleton showing enlarged backbone at the University of Zurich Zoological Museum

While humans have 5 lumbar vertebrae, the hero shrew possesses 11, which have interlocking spines on their sides and lower surfaces. These spines mesh with the projections on the vertebrae behind and in front, creating a strong, yet flexible structure. The spine is so elaborate that it accounts for 4% of the shrew's body weight. In other small mammals the spine only accounts for 0.5 1.6% of the overall mass. The modifications to this small animal's body are not limited to the spine. The ribs are much thicker than those of similarly sized mammals and the spinal muscles have undergone some radical changes. The transverse muscles are reduced, while the muscles that extend and flex the spine are well developed, which results in the shrew's peculiar gait with the spine flexing in a snake-like manner. The hero shrew feeds on insects, snails, worms and small lizards. The hero shrew's unique anatomy allows it to bear the weight of a 160 lb (73 kg) human without harm,[4] and this incredible resistance leads to the shrew being used as a talisman by the local Mangbetu people of the Congo, believing that wearing part of the shrew will provide invincibility.[5]

Adaptive significance[edit]
Various hypotheses exist to explain the unusual skeleton of the hero shrew. It may simply be that the robust spine and associated posture keeps the animals body clear of wet ground in swampy habitats, or that the trait evolved as the consequence of some unrelated adaptive factor, as in the spandrels of St Marco hypothesis.[5] Alternatively, Scutisorex may use their exceptional spines to lever logs or dead palm leaves, granting access to the invertebrate prey such as earthworms (Oligochaeta). Though the behaviour has not been directly observed, when local people are collecting beetle larvae in a similar fashion, they often encounter the shrews.[5]

References[edit]
1. ^ Hutterer, R. (2005). "Order Soricomorpha". In Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. Mammal Species of the World (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 257. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494. 2. ^ Kerbis Peterhans, J. (2008). Scutisorex somereni. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. 3. ^ Piper, Ross (2007), Extraordinary Animals: An Encyclopedia of Curious and Unusual Animals, Greenwood Press ISBN 0313339228. 4. ^ Allen, JA. [clarification needed] (1917). "The skeletal characters of Scutisorex somereni". Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 28: 769784. 5. ^ a b c Stanley, W. T.; Robbins, L. W.; Malekani, J. M.; Mbalitini, S. G.; Migurimu, D. A.; Mukinzi, J. C.; Hulselmans, J.; Prevot, V. et al. (2013). "A new hero emerges: Another exceptional mammalian spine and its potential adaptive

significance". Biology Letters 9 (5): 20130486. doi:10.1098/rsbl.2013.0486.PMID 23883579. edit

External links[edit]

Fun Zone: The Mammal Society - Mammal record breakers - What a backbone![dead link] Scutisorex somereni armored shrew (also: hero shrew) The Lord Geekington: The Hero Shrew! Cameron McCormick, December 29, 2007