Crocidura hikmiya explained

Crocidura hikmiya (Sinharaja shrew or Sri Lankan rain forest shrew) is a species of shrew described from the rainforests 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 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 natured .[1]

Etymology

The specific epithet hikmiya is Sinhala for ‘shrew’, applied here as a substantive in apposition. It is known as ශ්‍රී ලංකා සිංහරාජ කුනු හික් මීයා in Sinhala.

Habitat

It is known only from two forest-edge sites in Sinharaja Forest Reserve, at Kudawa and Morningside.

External links

Notes and References

  1. S. H. Meegaskumbura . M. Meegaskumbura . K. Manamendra-Arachchi . R. Pethiyagoda . C. J. Schneider . 2007 . Crocidura hikmiya, a new shrew (Mammalia: Soricomorpha: Soricidae) from Sri Lanka . . 1665 . 19–30 .