Abstract
The daily activity pattern of seven species of tropical African shrews belonging to the sub-family Crocidurinae (Sylvisorex megalura, Crocidura bottegi, C. jouvenetae, C. poensis, C. wimmeri, C. flavescens and C. giffardi) has been recorded in laboratory conditions, and compared with that of two temperate species (Suncus etruscus and Crocidura russula). The live body weight of the seven African shrews ranged from 4 to 100 g, and that of their temperate counterparts from 2 to 10 g. The activity recordings were carried out at an environmental temperature of 25° C for the tropical species, and at 5° C and 20° C for the European species. There is no correlation between the body weight and the total daily activity in the species studied. All seven African shrews studied are nocturnal. Their activity periods last for 4 to 30 minutes per hour during the night, versus 2 min/hour during the day. Episodes of torpor were regularly observed during day time in Crocidura jouvenetae. In contrast, European Crocidurinae have a more important diurnal activity. However, their activity clearly presents a daily rhythm with nocturnal predominance in summer, when temperature is higher ; this rhythm progressively becomes less pronounced as temperature lowers. The reduced daily activity of Crocidurinae is interpreted in relation to their tropical origin.
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