7.

Black-backed Shrew Mole

Uropsilus atronates

French: Taupe a croupe noire / German: Schwarzriicken-Spitzmausmaulwurf / Spanish: Topo musarana de dorso negro

Taxonomy. Rhynchonax andersoni atronates G. M. Allen, 1923,

“Mu-cheng, Salween drainage, southwestern Yunnan, 7000 feet [= 2134 m] altitude,” China.

Uropsilus atronates was formerly included in U. gracilis, but recent molecular data supportits status as a distinct species. Monotypic.

Distribution. SW China (C Yunnan), restricted to region S of Dali and between Salween and Mekong rivers (Gengma County, Yongde Xueshan, and Wuliang Shan).

Descriptive notes. There are no specific measurements available. Dorsum is dark brown; venter is dark slate. Snout is long, with cartilaginous tubular prolongation beyond forepart of skull. Dental formulais 12/1, C1/1,P 4/4, M 3/3 (x2) = 38.

Habitat. Primary broad-leaved forests, mixed coniferous and broad-leaved forests, and primary coniferous forests.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. The Black-backed Shrew Mole is terrestrial.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Not assessed on The IUCN Red List, whereit is considered a synonym of U. gracilis, which is classified as Least Concern.

Bibliography. Allen (1938), Hoffmann (1984), Jiang Xuelong & Hoffmann (2013), Wan Tao etal. (2013).