A new species of small-eared shrew of the genus Cryptotis Pomel, 1848 (Mammalia, Eulipotyphla, Soricidae) from the easternmost mountains of the Venezuelan Andes

Abstract

The presence of shrews of the genus Cryptotis in the most northern spur of the eastern branch of the Venezuelan Andes was initially known by two specimens collected in the Macizo de Guaramacal. Both specimens were initially assigned to C. thomasi and subsequently to C. meridensis. Posteriorly, additional specimens were collected in several localities of the Cordillera de Mérida, from the Páramo la Cristalina up to the Sierra de Barbacoas. These samples are not referable to C. thomasi, C. meridensis or another Colombian or Venezuelan species, but on the contrary represent an undescribed species, belonging to the C. thomasi species group. The new species is distinguished by a unique set of morphological characters; among the most remarkable features are the lateral displacement of the foramen of the posterior edge of the tympanic process of the petromastoid, a large fourth unicuspid, visible in lateral view of the skull, and a tricuspulate lower incisor. After the recognition of this species, the number of small-eared shrews of the genus Cryptotis increases to 43, 16 of which occur in South America.