| The Pribilof Island Shrew lives in maritime tundra on St. Paul Island, and almost nothing is known about its biology. A small shrew was collected by Russian explorers in 1840. They said it came from "Unalaska," which may have meant Unalaska Island, Alaska. However, none have been found there since. A species similar to the one the Russians described (and named) was later found on St. Paul Island, one of the Pribilof Islands, now part of Alaska, and given a different name; it occurs in relative abundance there. This raises many unanswered questions: did a shrew that is now extinct once live on Unalaska Island? Are there two species, or just the one we know as the Pribilof Island shrew?
Also known as:
Unalaska Island Shrew
Sexual Dimorphism:
None
Length:
Range:
88-97 mm
Weight:
Range:
3-4 g
References:
Merriam, C.H., 1895. Synopsis of the American shrews of the genus Sorex. North American Fauna, No. 10, 57-98.
Links:
Mammal Species of the World
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