Suncus lixus

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	MAMMALIA	EULIPOTYPHLA	SORICIDAE

Scientific Name:

Suncus lixus

Species Authority:

(Thomas, 1898)

Common Name/s:

English

–

Greater Dwarf Shrew

Taxonomic Notes:

Suncus lixus possibly represents a complex of at least two similar species. Further studies are needed to clarify the taxonomic status of populations currently allocated to this species.

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Least Concern ver 3.1

Year Published:

2008

Assessor/s:

Hutterer, R. & Kerbis Peterhans, J.

Reviewer/s:

Amori, G. (Small Nonvolant Mammal Red List Authority) & Cox, N. (Global Mammal Assessment Team)

Contributor/s:

Justification:
Listed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution, presumed large population, it occurs in a number of protected areas, has a tolerance of a degree of habitat modification, and because it is unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a more threatened category.

History:

2004	–	Least Concern
1996	–	Lower Risk/least concern (Baillie and Groombridge 1996)

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This widespread species ranges through East Africa, Central Africa and southern Africa. It has been recorded from Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi (including the type locality of the Nyika Plateau), Democratic Republic of Congo (a single specimen), Zambia, Zimbabwe, Angola (a single specimen), Botswana, southwestern Mozambique, Swaziland (Malolotja Nature Reserve) and South Africa.
Countries:	Native: Angola (Angola); Botswana; Congo, The Democratic Republic of the; Kenya; Malawi; Mozambique; South Africa; Swaziland; Tanzania, United Republic of; Zambia; Zimbabwe
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	It appears to be common in Kruger National Park, South Africa.
Population Trend:	Unknown

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	This species has generally been recorded from dry savanna and dry woodland habitats. It has also been encountered in riverine forest, open dry scrub, open grassland, coastal lowland froest, Acaicia woodland and suburban gardens (Skinner and Chimimba 2005).
Systems:	Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	There appear to be no major threats to this species as a whole.

Major Threat(s):

There appear to be no major threats to this species as a whole.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	There are no direct conservation measures in place for this species. It is present in several protected areas (eg. Kruger National Park, South Africa). Additional studies are needed into the distribution of this species.

Conservation Actions:

There are no direct conservation measures in place for this species. It is present in several protected areas (eg. Kruger National Park, South Africa). Additional studies are needed into the distribution of this species.

Citation:	Hutterer, R. & Kerbis Peterhans, J. 2008. Suncus lixus. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 18 May 2013.
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