Animal Info - Sumatra Water Shrew

(Other Names: Asiatic or Oriental Water Shrew)

Chimarrogale sumatrana (C. phaeura sumatrana)

Status: Critically Endangered

1. Profile
2. Tidbits
3. Status and Trends (IUCN Status, Countries Where Currently Found, History of Distribution, Threats and Reasons for Decline)
4. Data on Biology and Ecology (Habitat, Diet, Behavior)
5. References

Profile

The Sumatra water shrew occurs in tropical forest in the banks of streams. Asiatic water shrews apparently swim well under water. They are said to walk along the bottom feeding on benthic organisms. The entrances of their burrows are usually under water. They have a number of physical adaptations to aquatic life, including small ears with flaps to seal their ears when submerged, as well as dense, water repellent fur. Asiatic water shrews eat insects, aquatic larvae, crustaceans, and possibly small fish.

The Sumatra water shrew has been found only in the Padang Highlands, West Sumatra, Indonesia. It apparently occurs in a very limited area that is declining because of human encroachment.

Tidbits

*** Shrews in the genus Chimarrogale are also known as "Asiatic water shrews" and "Oriental water shrews."

*** The taxonomic status of the Sumatra water shrew is uncertain. Some consider it to be a full species, while others consider it to be a subspecies of Chimarrogale phaeura.

Status and Trends

IUCN Status:

1996 - 2004: Critically Endangered (Criteria: B1+2c) (IUCN 2004)

Countries Where the Sumatra Water Shrew Is Currently Found:

2004: Occurs in Indonesia. (IUCN 2004)

History of Distribution:

The Sumatra water shrew has been found only in the Padang Highlands, West Sumatra, Indonesia.

Threats and Reasons for Decline:

The Sumatra water shrew apparently occurs in a very limited area that is under pressure because of human encroachment.

Data on Biology and Ecology

Habitat:

The Sumatra water shrew is found in and near streams in tropical forest.

The Sumatra water shrew is one of the species that live in the Sundaland Biodiversity Hotspot (Cons. Intl.).

Diet:

Asiatic water shrews eat insects, aquatic larvae, crustaceans, and possibly small fish.

Behavior:

Asiatic water shrews apparently swim well under water. They are said to walk along the bottom feeding on benthic organisms. The entrances of their burrows are usually under water.

References

Carter et al. 1946, Cons. Intl., IUCN 1996, IUCN 2000, IUCN 2003a, IUCN 2004, Nowak 1999, Stone 1995, Wilson & Reeder 1993

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