Abstract
Of the 13 known species of water shrews in the world, two water shrews are known from India, the Elegant Water Shrew Nectogale elegans and Himalayan Water Shrew Chimmarogale himalayica. Of these, the Elegant Water Shrew was earlier reported only from streams of north Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh, India. During the period 2014–2016, the Elegant Water Shrews were sighted at three different locations in Uttarakhand State in the western Himalayan region. The present records are evidence for the broader range of distribution of Nectogale elegans in India indicating that the species is more widely distributed than previously thought. We present the details of sightings, habitats and behavior of shrews that were recorded during our study on impact of climate change on the aquatic ecosystem of the Himalaya.
Highlights
New distribution records of Elegant Water Shrew Nectogale elegans Milne-Edwards, 1870 (Mammalia: Eulipotyphla: Soricidae) from the western Himalaya, Uttarakhand, India
The Elegant Water Shrew Nectogale elegans, which is monotypic to its genera, has been reported in the northern part of South Asia, central and southern part of China, and the north of Southeast Asia
In South Asia, it has been recorded in India (North Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh) and eastern Nepal (Mitchell 1975; Choudhury 2003; Molur et al 2005; Srinivasulu & Srinivasulu 2012; Menon 2014)
Summary
TheJournaloffThreafetnedTaxafsi dedfciafetdftobuflidfingevfidencefforconservafiongloballybypublfsihfingpeer-revfei wed arfcilesonlfineeverymonfthaftareasonablyrapfidrafet aftwww.fthreafetnedfatxa.org.AllarfcilespublfsihedfinJoTTare regfsifetredunderCreafvieCommonsAfrtfibufion4.0InfetrnafionalLfciense unlessoftherwfsie menfioned.JoTTallows unresfrtfcifetduseoffarfcilesfinanymedfium,reproducfion,anddfsifrtfibufionbyprovfidfingadequafet credffitftoftheaufthors andfthesourceoffpublfciafion. New distribution records of Elegant Water Shrew Nectogale elegans Milne-Edwards, 1870 (Mammalia: Eulipotyphla: Soricidae) from the western Himalaya, Uttarakhand, India. The shrew was observed diving into the water under the submerged rocks and boulders in search of food Another individual, in November 2015, was recorded in Jamak Stream, near Maneri Village, Uttarkashi District, Uttarakhand (30.73193 N & 78.52813 E) at an altitude of 1,345m and water depth of 20cm (Image 2). In November 2015, was recorded in Jamak Stream, near Maneri Village, Uttarkashi District, Uttarakhand (30.73193 N & 78.52813 E) at an altitude of 1,345m and water depth of 20cm (Image 2) This shrew was observed moving underwater between submerged boulders interspersed with short bouts of 5–10 seconds.
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