In 1996 the International Sorex araneus Cytogenetics Committee (ISACC) published a comprehensive list of 50 chromosome races of the common shrew Sorex araneus (Zima et . 1996). Since that time twenty one new races have been described and three races have been removed from the list. The present list summarises the data about races described since the 1996 publication. The rules introduced by Searle et ai (1991) and Hausser et al (1994) were followed in the compilation of the list. It can be considered a reference for further studies of evolutionary relationships between the chromosome races of Sorex araneus. A summary table of all the 68 known races, arranged alphabetically according to their names, is given. RESUMEEn suivant les principes de nomenclature des chromosomes de Sorex araneus (Searle et al. 1991) et ceux de la definition de ses races chromosomiques , PISACC (International Sorex araneus Cytogenetics Committee) a public en 1996 la premiere liste de races chromosomiques de 5. araneus (Zima et al., 1996). Elle comprenait 50 races chromosomiques. Depuis, 21 race nouvelles ont etc decrites et trois races ont etc eliminees de cette liste. Nous presentons ici la liste revisee des races chromosomiques de 5. araneus qui comprend actuellement 68 races.

The list of chromosome races of the common shrew (Sorex araneus) was compiled, the vast literature has been scrutinized, and unpublished data have been added. Altogether, 50 chromosome races could be listed. The name and its synonyms, chromosomal constitution, author of the description, type locality, known distribution range, and additional information are reported for individual races. The present list should be considered a working document that will be regularly updated and supplemented.

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Southern and northern glacial refugia are considered paradigms that explain the complex phylogeographical patterns and processes of European biota. Here, we provide a revisited statistical phylogeographical analysis of the pygmy shrew Sorex minutus Linnaeus, 1766 (Eulipotyphla, Soricidae), examining its genetic diversity, genetic differentiation and demographic history in the Mediterranean peninsulas and in Western and Central Europe. The results showed support for genetically distinct and diverse phylogeographical groups consistent with southern and northern glacial refugia, as expected from previous studies. We also identified geographical barriers concordant with glaciated mountain ranges during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), early diversification events dated between the Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene for the main phylogeographical groups, and recent (post-LGM) patterns of demographic expansions. This study is the most comprehensive investigation of this species to date, and the results have implications for the conservation of intraspecific diversity and the preservation of the evolutionary potential of S. minutus.