Natural history and ecology of the Desert Shrew, Notiosorex crawfordi from the Northern Chihuahuan Desert, whith notes on captive breeding

Abstract

Field and laboratory studies were conducted on the desert shrew, Notiosorex crawfordi, from Big Bend National Park (BBNP) located in the northern region of the Chihuahuan Desert. This shrew is strongly nocturnal, and feeds primarily on a wide variety of arthropods. The most frequently occurring prey items analysed from stomach contents were spiders, beetles, grasshoppers, termites, and hemipterans. A small amount of vertebrate material was also found in its stomach contents. This represents the first detailed study on the diet composition of this species. Nests were constructed from dead leaves and grasses and 77.7 % of them were found under decaying yucca and agave plants ; the remainder were located either in depressions under rocks or inside a dead oak stump. Between 70-81 % of the shrews sampled were adults, and the rest juveniles. The sex ratio of males : females was 1.08 : 1. In captivity, 20 pairs of males and females produced one litter with an average litter size of 2.9.Four females produced a second litter with an average size of 1.5. The average longevity of male and female shrews was 1 1.8 and 13.3 months, respectively.The gestation period ranged from 19-22 days. Age at sexual maturity occurred between 43-46 days for males, and 42-44 days for females.

Notes on Notiosorex crawfordi (coues) from two oases in the Baja California peninsula, México

“…The result of the stomach content analysis is similar to that reported from Texas (Punzo, 2003), with variation in the families present and the relative frequency of each in the order of invertebrates. In both cases, plant material and Acari are reported.…”

Catalogue of Texas spiders

“… Hogna carolinensis Barron et al 1999 : 550; Broussard and Horner 2006 : 254; Cokendolpher et al 2008 : 9, 29; Dondale and Redner 1990 : 45, mf, desc. (figs 33–35); Jackman 1997 : 87, desc., 165; Punzo 2003 : 399; Punzo 2007 : 66; Richman et al 2011a : 47; Roberts 2001 : 49; Roewer 1955 : 257 [S, T] …”

The odors of predators influence the behavior of the silky pocket mouse, Perognathus flavus (Rodentia)

“…The nature of these adaptations is often associated with specific microhabitat conditions and foraging strategies (Punzo and Gonzalez 2003). The ability to use olfactory cues to detect potential predators has been demonstrated in a number of different taxa, including mollusks (Cote 1995), crustaceans (Blake and Hart 1993), spiders Kukoyi 1997, Punzo 2005a), whipscorpions (Punzo 2005b), insects (Malmqvist 1992), fish (Chivers et al 1995), reptiles (Cooper 1998), and mammals (Dickman 1992;Punzo 2003aPunzo ,b, 2005c. The ability to use olfactory cues to detect potential predators has been demonstrated in a number of different taxa, including mollusks (Cote 1995), crustaceans (Blake and Hart 1993), spiders Kukoyi 1997, Punzo 2005a), whipscorpions (Punzo 2005b), insects (Malmqvist 1992), fish (Chivers et al 1995), reptiles (Cooper 1998), and mammals (Dickman 1992;Punzo 2003aPunzo ,b, 2005c.…”