Sicilian Shrew

The Sicilian shrew (Crocidura sicula) is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is found in Sicily (Italy) and Gozo (Malta). Its natural habitat is temperate shrubland.

Distribution and habitat

It is present in Sicily and Ustica (C. s. sicula), in the Egadi Islands (C. s. aegatensis) and in Gozo (C. s. calypso). It lives in open environments of gariga or Mediterranean scrub but also within lyce, cork and beech forest formations, from 0 to 1,800 m (0 to 5,906 ft) above sea level. Sometimes it is also present within citrus groves and cultivated areas as well as, rarely, in rural dwellings.

Subspecies

Four subspecies of the Sicilian shrew are found:

• Crocidura sicula sicula - on the island of Sicily^[3]
• Crocidura sicula aegatensis - on the Aegadian Islands^[3]
• Crocidura sicula calypso - on the island of Gozo^[3]
• Crocidura sicula esuae - a fossil form from the Middle Pleistocene of Sicily

See also

• Endemic Maltese wildlife

References

• Sarà M. & Vitturi R. "Crocidura populations (Mammalia, Soricidae) from the sicilian–maltese insular area" (PDF). Hystrix, 1996; 8 (1–2): 121–132. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-05-15.