Hero shrew
| Hero shrew Temporal range: Recent |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Eulipotyphla |
| Family: | Soricidae |
| Subfamily: | Crocidurinae |
| Genus: | Scutisorex |
| Species: | S. somereni |
| Binomial name | |
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Scutisorex somereni (Thomas, 1910) |
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| Armored shrew range | |
The hero shrew (Scutisorex somereni), also known as the armored shrew, is a large shrew native to the Congo Basin of Africa. Its features are typical of a white-toothed shrew − short legs, slender snout, dense fur − except for a highly unusual spinal column. It has corrugated interlocking vertebrae that are unique among mammals except for its sister species, Thor's hero shrew. This unique adaptation allows the animal to bear a huge amount of weight on its back − 72 kg (159 lb) according to an expedition team.
The hero shrew lives in both lowland and mountain forests. They live in the undergrowth, feeding primarily on invertebrates. The precise purpose of its unusual spine is not known; it is hypothesized that it allows the animal to push itself under logs and between palm leaves and the tree's trunk to find food. The hero shrew is believed to hold magical powers by the local tribes. It is classified as Least Concern by IUCN.
Externally, the hero shrew resembles a typical large shrew. It has short legs, a slender snout, and small eyes. It has dense, coarse fur that is gray in color. It has two types of fur; some hair strands provide sensory functions while other produce scent. The hero shrew aggressively marks its territory, contorting its body to mark objects with its scent. It is thought that the odor repels other members of its species. The chemical it emits can discolor its fur yellow.
The hero shrew lives in the forest undergrowth in sparsely populated areas, which leads to it rarely being seen by humans. It is primarily an insectivore, but will eat small amphibians and lizards in the wild, and bird and mammal meat in captivity. A fully grown hero shrew's body is 12–15 centimetres (4.7–5.9 in) in length with a tail of 6.8–9.5 centimetres (2.7–3.7 in). It weighs 70–113 grams (2.5–4.0 oz). It does not exhibit sexual dimorphism. The breeding habits of the hero shrew have not been observed.
The vertebrae of the hero shrew are thick, corrugated cylinders. The vertebrae interlock on their sides and lower surfaces. The animal's spine has bony projections that mesh to form a very strong, yet flexible backbone. The differences are especially pronounced in the lower back between the rib cage and hips. The hero shrew has 11 lumbar vertebrae, in contrast to a typical mammal which has 5 such vertebrae. The spine of the hero shrew accounts for 4% of its body weight, in contrast to 0.5–1.6% for a typical small mammal. The ribs of the shrew are thicker than those of similarly sized mammals and the spinal muscles are significantly different. Its abdominal muscles are reduced, while its spinal muscles are enlarged. As a result, the hero shrew has a peculiar gait with its spine flexing in a snake-like manner.
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Wikipedia