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Brazilian shrew mouse Temporal range: Pleistocene – Recent
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Rodentia
Family:	Cricetidae
Subfamily:	Sigmodontinae
Tribe:	Akodontini
Genus:	Blarinomys Thomas, 1896
Species:	B. breviceps
Binomial name
Blarinomys breviceps (Winge, 1888)

The Brazilian shrew mouse (Blarinomys breviceps), also known as the blarinine akodont, is a rodent in the tribe Akodontini from the Atlantic Forest of eastern and southeastern Brazil. It is the only species in the genus Blarinomys. Phylogenetic analysis suggest that there are two clear geographical clades, a northeastern and southeastern.

Morphology

The appearance of the Brazilian shrew mouse is often compared to that of small insectivorous shrews or moles with small, reduced eyes, short ears and tail, and short, soft fur. Its mole-like appearance contributes to its ability to be differentiated from other rodents in its Neotropical habitat. Overall, its specialized body structure lends itself to the animal's subterranean life, with broad forefeet and large claws for digging. It has a long snout that is used to find insects in the ground and highly developed jaw muscles that help to close the mouth quickly, as to avoid swallowing dirt. The species has demonstrated sexual dimorphism in that females are usually slightly larger than males.

Lifespan

The average lifespan of the Brazilian shrew mouse is unknown, as they are difficult to find. Captive specimens tend to refuse food and die shortly after capture. It is generally assumed that the species' lifespan is similar to other Sigmodontinae rodents, which is typically less than one year.

Diet

Very little is known about the diet of B. breviceps, however it is assumed to be primarily insectivorous. When studied in captivity, many specimens refuse food and die within a few days. However, some captive organisms have been shown to eat a variety of insects including crickets, moths and butterflies, and roaches. Overall, they tend to refuse other food sources such as fruits or seeds.

Conservation status

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of Endangered Species, the Brazilian shrew mouse is considered of least concern. However, some experts suggest that since the species is so difficult to find, data is insufficient to confidently label their conservation status.

References

1. ^ Pardinas et al., 2008
2. Duff and Lawson, 2004
3. ^ Musser and Carleton, 2005
4. Ventura, K.; Sato-Kuwabara, Y.; Fagundes, V.; Geise, L.; Leite, Y.L.R.; Costa, L.P.; Silva, M.J.J.; Yonenaga-Yassuda, Y.; Rodrigues, M.T. (2012). "Phylogeographic Structure and Karyotypic Diversity of the Brazilian Shrew Mouse (Blarinomys breviceps, Sigmodontinae) in the Atlantic Forest". Cytogenetic and Genome Research. 138 (1): 19–30. doi:10.1159/000341887. ISSN 1424-859X. PMID 22907314. S2CID 207643280.
5. ^ Missagia, Rafaela Velloso; Perini, Fernando Araujo (November 2018). "Skull morphology of the Brazilian shrew mouse Blarinomys breviceps (Akodontini; Sigmodontinae), with comparative notes on Akodontini rodents". Zoologischer Anzeiger. 277: 148–161. doi:10.1016/j.jcz.2018.09.005. ISSN 0044-5231. S2CID 92290701.
6. ^ Matson, John O.; Abravaya, J. Paul (1977-06-15). "Blarinomys breviceps". Mammalian Species (74): 1–3. doi:10.2307/3503793. ISSN 0076-3519. JSTOR 3503793.
7. Hildebrand, Milton (1985), "Chapter 6. Digging of Quadrupeds", Functional Vertebrate Morphology, Harvard University Press, pp. 89–109, doi:10.4159/harvard.9780674184404.c6, ISBN 9780674184404
8. Nowak, Ronald M. (1999-07-29). Walker's mammals of the world. ISBN 0801857899. OCLC 1037249783.
9. Alexsander Zamorano ANTUNES Marilda Rapp de ESTON (2010). Registro de Blarinomys breviceps (Winge, 1888) (Cricetidae, Rodentia) no Parque Estadual Carlos Botelho – SP (Nota Científica). A record of Brazilian shrew-mouse Blarinomys breviceps (Winge, 1888) (Cricetidae, Rodentia) in Carlos Botelho State Park – SP, Brazil (Scientific Note). Instituto Florestal. OCLC 860212699.

Literature cited

• Duff, A. and Lawson, A. 2004. Mammals of the World: A checklist. New Haven, Connecticut: Yale University Press, 312 pp. ISBN 0-7136-6021-X
• Hildebrand, M. 1985. Digging in Quadrupeds. Functional Vertebrate Morphology. Harvard University Press. Pp. 89-109.
• Matson, JO and Abravaya, JP. 1977. Blarinomys breviceps. Mammalian Species (74): 1. doi:10.2307/3503793. ISSN 0076-3519.
• Missagia, R. and Perini, F. 2018. Skull morphology of the Brazilian shrew mouse Blarinomys breviceps (Akodontini; Sigmodontinae), with comparative notes on Akodontini rodents. Zoologischer Anzeiger. 277. 10.1016/j.jcz.2018.09.005.
• Musser, G.G. and Carleton, M.D. 2005. Superfamily Muroidea. Pp. 894–1531 in Wilson, D.E. and Reeder, D.M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: a taxonomic and geographic reference. 3rd ed. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2 vols., 2142 pp. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0
• Nowak, R. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World, vol. II. Baltimore and London: The Johns Hopkins University Press.
• Pardinas, U., Patterson, B., D'Elia, G. and Teta, P. 2008. Blarinomys breviceps. In IUCN. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2009.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on February 4, 2010.
• Ventura, K., Sato-Kuwabara, Y., Fagundes, V., Geise, L., Leite, Y., Costa, L., Silva, M., Yonenaga-Yassuda, Y., Rodrigues, M. 2012. Phylogeographic Structure and Karyotypic Diversity of the Brazilian Shrew Mouse (Blarinomys breviceps, Sigmodontinae) in the Atlantic Forest. Cytogenetic and Genome Research. 138 (1): 19–30.
• Zamorano A and Eston MR. 2010. Registro de Blarinomys breviceps (Winge, 1888) (Cricetidae, Rodentia) no Parque Estadual Carlos Botelho – SP (Nota Científica). A record of Brazilian shrew-mouse Blarinomys breviceps (Winge, 1888) (Cricetidae, Rodentia) in Carlos Botelho State Park – SP, Brazil (Scientific Note). Instituto Florestal. OCLC 860212699

v t e Myomorpha
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Rodentia
Myomorpha †Anomalomyidae Anomalomys Anomalospalax Prospalax Dipodoidea †Aksyiromys †Banyuesminthus †Elmymys †Primisminthus †Simiacritomys Dipodidae Allactaginae Allactaga Allactodipus Pygeretmus Scarturus Cardiocraniinae Cardiocranius Salpingotulus Salpingotus Dipodinae Dipodini Dipus Eremodipus Jaculus Stylodipus Paradipodini Paradipus Euchoreutinae Euchoreutes †Simimyidae Nonomys Simimys Sminthidae †Allosminthus †Gobiosminthus †Heosminthus †Heterosminthus †Lophocricetus †Macrognathomys †Megasminthus †Miosicista †Paraminthus †Schaubemys †Shamosminthus Sicista †Sinosminthus †Tyrannomys Zapodidae Eozapus †Javazapus Napaeozapus †Pliozapus †Sinozapus †Sminthozapus Zapus Muroidea †Armintomyidae Armintomys Platacanthomyidae †Neocometes Platacanthomys Typhlomys Spalacidae Myospalacinae Eospalax Myospalax †Pliosiphneus Rhizomyinae †Brachyrhizomys Cannomys Rhizomys Tachyoryctes Spalacinae Nannospalax Spalax Eumuroida See below↓
Eumuroida Calomyscidae Calomyscus Cricetidae †Copemys †Eumys †Wilsoneumys Arvicolinae Arvicolini Arvicola †Mimomys Clethrionomyini †Allophaiomys †Altaiomys Alticola †Borsodia Caryomys Clethrionomys Craseomys Eothenomys †Pitymimomys †Prolagurus Dicrostonychini Dicrostonyx †Predicrostonyx Ellobiusini Bramus Ellobius Lagurini Eolagurus Lagurus Lemmini Lemmus Myopus †Plioctomys Synaptomys †Tobienia Microtini Alexandromys Chionomys Hyperacrius Lasiopodomys Lemmiscus Microtus Mictomicrotus Neodon Proedromys Stenocranius Volemys Ondatrini †Cosomys Neofiber †Ogmodontomys Ondatra Pliophenacomyini Arborimus Phenacomys Pliomyini Dinaromys †Pliomys Cricetinae Allocricetulus †Apocricetus Cansumys †Collimys †Cricetinus †Cricetulodon Cricetulus Cricetus Mesocricetus †Neocricetodon Nothocricetulus Phodopus †Rotundomys †Symmetrodontomys Tscherskia Urocricetus †Democricetodontinae Democricetodon Karydomys Spanocricetodon Neotominae †Protorepomys †Tsaphanomys Baiomyini Baiomys Scotinomys Neotomini Hodomys Nelsonia Neotoma Xenomys Ochrotomyini Ochrotomys Reithrodontomyini Habromys Isthmomys Megadontomys Neotomodon Onychomys Osgoodomys Peromyscus Podomys Reithrodontomys Sigmodontinae †Cordimus Juliomys †Megaoryzomys Oryzomyalia Abrotrichini Abrothrix Chlelemys Geoxus Notiomys Akodontini Akodon Bibimys Blarinomys Brucepattersonius Deltamys Juscelinomys Kunsia Lenoxus Necromys Neomicroxus Oxymycterus Podoxymys Scapteromys Thalpomys Thaptomys Ozyzomyini Aegialomys Amphinectomys Cerradomys Drymoreomys Eremoryzomys Euryoryzomys Handleyomys Holochilus Hylaeamys Lundomys †Megalomys Melanomys Microakodontomys Microryzomys Mindomys Neacomys Nectomys Nephelomys Nesoryzomys Noronhomys Oecomys Oligoryzomys Oreoryzomys Oryzomys Pseudoryzomys Scolomys Sigmodontomys Sooretamys Tanyuromys Transandinomys Zygodontomys Phyllotini Andalgalomys Andinomys Auliscomys Calassomys Calomys Chinchillula Eligmodontia Euneomys Galenomys Graomys †Ichthyurodon Irenomys Loxodontomys Neotomys †Olympicomys Phyllotis Punomys Reithrodon Salinomys †Tafimys Tapecomys Thomasomyini Abrawayaomys Aepeomys Chilomys Delomys Phaenomys Rhagomys Rhipidomys Thomasomys Wilfredomys Wiedomyini †Cholomys Wiedomys Sigmodontalia Ichthyomyini Anotomys Chibchanomys Daptomys Ichthyomys Neusticomys Rheomys Sigmodontini †Prosigmodon Sigmodon Tylomyinae Nyctomyini Nyctomys Ototylomys Tylomyini Otonyctomys Tylomys Muridae Deomyinae Acomys Deomys Lophuromys Uranomys Gerbillinae Ammodillus Desmodilliscini Desmodilliscus Pachyuromys Gerbillini Brachiones Dipodillus Gerbillus Meriones Microdillus Psammomys Rhombomys Sekeetamys Gerbillurini Desmodillus Gerbilliscus Gerbillurus Tatera Taterillini Taterillus Leimacomyinae Leimacomys Lophiomyinae Lophiomys Murinae †Alormys †Coryphomys Hadromys †Hoojieromys †Milimonggamys †Rakasamys †Spelaeomys Vernaya Apodemini Apodemus †Rhagamys Tokudaia Arvicanthini Aethomys Arvicanthis †Canariomys Dasymys Dephomys Desmomys Golunda Grammomys Hybomys Lamottemys Lemniscomys †Malpaisomys Micaelamys Mylomys Oenomys †Parapelomys Pelomys Rhabdomys †Saharamys †Saidomys Stochomys Thallomys Thamnomys Typomys Hapalomyini Hapalomys Hydromyini Anisomys Apomys Archboldomys Baiyankamys Brassomys Chiropodomys Chiruromys Chrotomys Coccymys Conilurus Crossomys Haeromys Hydromys Hyomys Leggadina Leporillus Leptomys Lorentzimys Macruromys Mallomys Mastacomys Melomys Mesembriomys Microhydromys Mirzamys Notomys Parahydromys Paraleptomys Paramelomys Pogonomys Protochromys Pseudohydromys Pseudomys Rhynchomys Solomys Soricomys Uromys Xeromys Zyzomys Malacomyini Malacomys Millardini Cremnomys Diomys Madromys Millardia Pithecheir Pithecheirops Murini Mus Otomyini Myotomys Otomys Parotomys Phloeomyini Batomys Carpomys Crateromys Musseromys Phloeomys Praomyini Chingawaemys Colomys Congomys Heimyscus Hylomyscus Mastomys Montemys Myomyscus Nilopegamys Ochromyscus Praomys Serengetimys Stenocephalemys Zelotomys Rattini Abditomys Anonymomys Bandicota Berylmys Bullimus Bunomys Chiromyscus Crunomys Dacnomys Diplothrix Echiothrix Eropeplus Halmaheramys Hyorhinomys Kadarsanomys Komodomys Lenomys Lenothrix Leopoldamys Limnomys Margaretamys Maxomys Melasmothrix Micromys Nesokia Nesoromys Niviventer Papagomys Palawanomys Paruromys Paucidentomys Paulamys Rattus Saxatilomys Sommeromys Srilankamys Sundamys Taeromys Tarsomys Tateomys Tonkinomys Tryphomys Waiomys Vandeleurini Vandeleuria †Pseudocricetodontinae Adelomyarion Cincamyarion Heterocricetodon Latocricetodon Lignitella Kerosinia Oxynocricetodon Pseudocricetodon Nesomyidae Cricetomyinae Beamys Cricetomys Saccostomus Delanymyinae Delanymys Dendromurinae Dendromus Dendroprionomys Malacothrix Megadendromus Prionomys Steatomys Mystromyinae Mystromys Nesomyinae Brachytarsomys Brachyuromys Eliurus Gymnuromys Hypogeomys Macrotarsomys Monticolomys Nesomys Voalavo Petromyscinae Petromyscus

• IUCN Red List least concern species
• Akodontini
• Rodents of Brazil
• Endemic mammals of Brazil
• Fauna of the Atlantic Forest
• Mammals described in 1888
• Taxa named by Herluf Winge