Shrews

Scandentia (1/1) Tree Shrews are relatively well studied for peripheral and central AOS components (Clark, 1924 Loo, 1972 Skeen, 1977 Frahm, 1984). Chemosignals are little known (Stralendorf, 1986). 

Macroscelidea (1/1) The Elephant Shrews as nocturnal scavengers of invertebrates are well endowed for both systems (Broom, 1902 Wohrmann-Repenning, 1987 Kratzing, 1988). 

Fig. 2.2 External nose, (a) Rhinoglyphics lateral view of rhinarial surface, epidermal sculpturing and crenellations in Tree Shrew (Tupaia spp.), naked area encloses nostril (from Klauer, 1984). (b) Upper lip and rhinarium variants among carnivores (ventral view, Mongooses). 1. Narrow Philtrum and medial sulcus, 2. medial sulcus, Philtrum absent (from Pocock, 1914).

Fig. 4.6(b) GnRH +ve neurones (relative density) in the brain dot = mammalian, circle = avian, forms. Parasagittal view of distribution in Musk Shrew (Suncus murinus) — from bulb to median eminence (ME), optic X (OC), cerebral aqueduct (Aq), and preoptic area (POA) (from Schwanzel-Fukuda and Pfaff, 1994). 

Baxter R.M. (1981). Flehmen in two Southern African shrew species. Mammalia 45, 379-380. 

Frahm H.D., Stephan H. and Baron G. (1984). Comparison of accessory olfactory bulb volumes in the Common Tree Shrew (Tupaia glis). Acta Anat 119, 129-135. 

Hawes M. (1976). Odor as a possible isolating mechanism in sympatric species of shrews (Sorex vagrans and S. obscurus), J Mammal 57, 404-406. 

Kratzing J.E. and Woodall P. (1988). The rostral nasal anatomy of two Elephant Shrews. J Anat 157, 135-143. 

Matsuzaki O., Iwamaand A. and Hatanaka T. (1993). Fine-structure of the vomeronasal organ in the House Musk Shrew (Suncus murinus). Zool Sci 10, 813-818. 

Skeen L.C. and Hall W. (1977). Efferent projection of the main and the accessory olfactory bulb in tree Shrew (Tupaia glis). J Comp Neurol 172, 1-36. 

Stralendorf F. von. (1986). Urinary chemosignals and specific behavioural responses in Tree Shrews. J Chem Ecol 12, 99-106. 

Shrews, Sorex spp England 3 km from lead-zinc smelter vs. 23 km Carcass Immature Mature Kidney Immature Mature Liver Immature Mature... 

Newly weaned shrews fed diets equivalent to 2.13 mg copper/shrew daily for 12 weeks uncontaminated diets contained 25.1 mg/kg DW ration No effect on growth, survival, or tissue copper burdens kidney and liver copper concentrations increased in response to cadmium dosing 24, 25... 

Dodds-Smith, M.E., M.S. Johnson, and D.J. Thompson. 1992a. Trace metal accumulation by the shrew Sorex araneus. I. Total body burden, growth, and mortahty. Ecotoxicol. Environ. Safety 24 102-117. 

Proximity to the smokestacks of metal smelters is positively associated with increased levels of lead in the hair (manes) of horses and in tissues of small mammals, and is consistent with the results of soil and vegetation analyses (USEPA 1972). Lead concentrations were comparatively high in the hair of older or chronically impaired horses (USEPA 1972). However, tissues of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) collected near a zinc smelter did not contain elevated levels of lead (Sileo and Beyer 1985). Among small mammals near a metal smelter, blood ALAD activity was reduced in the white-footed mouse but normal in others, e.g., the short-tailed shrew (Beyer et al. 1985). The interaction effects of lead components in smelter emissions with other components, such as zinc, cadmium, and arsenic, are unresolved (USEPA 1972) and warrant additional research. 

Short-tailed shrew, Blarina brevicauda Carcass ... 

Common shrew, Sorex araneus, UK, 1979 Near roadway... 

Data for lead effects on mammalian wildlife are scarce. Shore (1995) indicates that lead residues in soils could successfully predict lead concentrations in kidneys and livers of wood mice and field voles however, this could not be demonstrated for shrews. In view of the large interspecies differences in lead responses reported for domestic livestock and laboratory populations of small animals (Table 4.9), more research is needed to determine if lead criteria for these groups are applicable to sensitive species of mammalian wildlife. 

Short tail shrew, Blarina brevicauda-, kidney 39 FW vs. 1 FW 170... 

Mammalian wildlife from uncontaminated habitats usually contain less than 0.1 to about 5 mg Ni/kg DW in tissues in nickel-contaminated areas, these same species have 0.5 to about 10 mg Ni/kg DW in tissues (Outridge and Scheuhammer 1993 Chau and Kulikovsky-Cordeiro 1995), with a maximum of 37 mg/kg DW in kidneys of the common shrew (Sorex araneus) (Table 6.6). Nickel accumulations in wildlife vary greatly between species. For example, tissues of mice have higher concentrations of nickel than rats and other rodents, while beavers and minks have higher nickel concentrations in their livers than birds in similar sites near Sudbury (Chau and Kulikovsky-Cordeiro 1995). 

---