Relationships within the Holarctic Sorex arcticus - Sorex tundrensis species complex

Abstract

Table] Systematics of Holarctic Sorex arcticus -Sorex tundrensis species complex has been m dispute; the current literature places North American and Eurasian populations in S. arcticus, separated by S. tundrensis in the Yukon and in Alaska. Results of morphometric analysis of the three populations indicate that the Eurasian shrews more closely resemble tundrensis than arcticus, and they are referred to that taxon. The fundamental numoer of autosomes in arcticus (NFa = 34) also differs from that of the Eurasian populations of tundrensis (NF = 52, 56; NFa=48, 52)); unfortunately North American tundrensis have not been karyotyped. A map of the distribution of the Eurasian subspecies is presented: chromosome analysis of specimens assigned to 5. t. sibiriensis indicate that there are probably two distinct species in this area, but nomenclatural changes are considered premature, pending further study.

Persistence and diversification of the Holarctic shrew, Sorex tundrensis (Family Soricidae), in response to climate change

“…1997). This shrew belongs within the araneus–arcticus group of 11 nominal species, which together span the Holarctic, from the UK and Spain eastward across Asia and into the Nearctic to the Canadian Maritime Provinces (Junge et al . 1983; Fumagalli et al .…”

“…In response to changing climate, Siberian species shifted their ranges to track preferred conditions, persisted in widespread or discrete refugia, or periodically became extirpated due to unfavourable conditions (Provan & Bennett 2008). Although currently widespread across the Palearctic, S. tundrensis has a limited Nearctic distribution (Alaska, nearby Yukon Territory and northernmost British Columbia; Nagorsen & Jones 1981; Junge et al . 1983).…”

New developments in vertebrate cytotaxonomy IX Chromosome numbers in the order Insectivora (Mammalia)

“…It thus includes Sorex sibiriensis Ognev, 1921 andS. irkutensis Ognev, 1933. In the literature Siberian representatives of this species can often be encountered as S. arcticus, a name which, however, is to be used for American animals only (see Junge et al, 1983). Honacki et al, 1982, note that according to Kozlovsky, 1971, the species sibiriensis and irkutensis are karyotypically distinct.…”

“…An aberrant female with 2n = 30, NFa = 54 was found, but this probably belongs to another species. See also Junge et al, 1983 (R); Zima & Kral, 1984 (R) and Volobouev, 1985 (R). Kozlovsky, 1973a (Krasnodar: Caucasus, USSR).…”

Karyotypic Variation in Sorex Tundrensis (Soricidae, Insectivora)

“…According to VOLOBOUEV (1989), Sorex tundrensis penetrated into North America later than Sorex arcticus, apparently over one of the last Beringian land bridges. The idea of recent immigration of this species into the Nearctic is supported by karyological ( MEYLAN and HAUSSER 1991;RAUSCH and RAUSCH 1993) as well as morphological data (JUNGE et al 1983). …”