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Many calcium-binding proteins are expressed in a region-and cell-type specific manner in the mammalian hippocampus. Neuronal calcium-binding proteins (NECABs) are also expressed in hippocampal neurons, but few species have been investigated, with partly controversial findings. We here describe NECAB1, NECAB2 and NECAB3 as well as parvalbumin, calbindin, and calretinin in the European mole, and compare staining patterns of these proteins with those in mouse and other species. While subtle differences are present, NECAB staining in the European mole was generally similar to those in mouse. Common to European moles, mice, and other species we investigated, large hilar polymorphic cells, likely to represent mossy cells, were positive for all three NECABs. NECAB1 and 2 are suitable as markers for these cells along the entire septotemporal axis of the hippocampus. In the European mole, parvalbumin, calbindin and calretinin showed traits that have been described in other species before, albeit in a unique combination. In summary, we provide the first description of distribution of these proteins in the hippocampus of the European mole. This subterranean, insectivorous, and solitary living species belongs to the Order of Eulipotyphla. Despite many similarities with other subterranean species from the rodent order in terms of lifestyle, its hippocampus is cytoarchitecturally much more elaborated than in, e.g., mole-rats. It remains an open question if the hippocampal structure of the European mole reflects evolutionary constraints or ecology. Our descriptive study highlights the diversity in hippocampal cytoarchitecture even in small mammalian species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small mammals in the Horšianska dolina-Valley were researched first in 1984–86 and later in 2016–19. This paper seeks to identify and assess the species composition and dynamics of fleas (Siphonaptera) found in the valley on small mammals of Rodentia and Eulipotyphla and to compare findings from these two periods separated by thirty years. The results indicated deviations in small mammal and flea community similarity as well as in the small mammal indicator species for each habitat and flea indicator species for the small mammal species. A total 12 different species of small mammals were captured, and 12 flea species were collected. Eight flea species were detected in 1984–86 and ten species were found in 2016–19. In both periods A. penicilliger, C. assimilis, C. solutus, D. dasycnema, N. fasciatus were captured. The differences were that in the earlier period, the species uncovered were C. congener, P. bidentata, and P. soricis, while in the later period they were C. agyrtes, C. bisoctodentatus, M. turbidus, and R. integella. In the relationship between fleas and small mammals, C. solutus was the specific species for Apodemus flavicollis, while A. penicilliger and C. agyrtes were for Clethrionomys glareolus, and C. assimilis was for Microtus arvalis.

The Dolisteinhola cave comprises a sequence of Holocene deposits dating from the late Atlanticum to the first half of the Subboreal period. Climate-sensitive species were found in layers V (Sciurus vulgaris) and layers II - III, IV, IV - V (Apodemus flavicollis). Two humerus of Barbastella barbastellus were also recognised. The faunal assemblage were grouped in three climatic complexes: species which lived both in cold and warm climates; species connected with warmer phases of the climate and species typical for a cold climate.

Many calcium-binding proteins are expressed in a region-and cell-type specific manner in the mammalian hippocampus. Neuronal calcium-binding proteins (NECABs) are also expressed in hippocampal neurons, but few species have been investigated, with partly controversial findings. We here describe NECAB1, NECAB2 and NECAB3 as well as parvalbumin, calbindin, and calretinin in the European mole, and compare staining patterns of these proteins with those in mouse and other species. While subtle differences are present, NECAB staining in the European mole was generally similar to those in mouse. Common to European moles, mice, and other species we investigated, large hilar polymorphic cells, likely to represent mossy cells, were positive for all three NECABs. NECAB1 and 2 are suitable as markers for these cells along the entire septotemporal axis of the hippocampus. In the European mole, parvalbumin, calbindin and calretinin showed traits that have been described in other species before, albeit in a unique combination. In summary, we provide the first description of distribution of these proteins in the hippocampus of the European mole. This subterranean, insectivorous, and solitary living species belongs to the Order of Eulipotyphla. Despite many similarities with other subterranean species from the rodent order in terms of lifestyle, its hippocampus is cytoarchitecturally much more elaborated than in, e.g., mole-rats. It remains an open question if the hippocampal structure of the European mole reflects evolutionary constraints or ecology. Our descriptive study highlights the diversity in hippocampal cytoarchitecture even in small mammalian species.

Here we present the results of a study of the small mammal assemblage recovered from a now disappeared karstic fissure located in a quarry called 'Pedrera del Corral d'en Bruach'. The site was located at 330 m a.s.l. in the Garraf Massif, ca. 20 km south of Barcelona. An archaeological rescue excavation was conducted in 2006 by the Grup de Recerca del Quaternari, focusing on sieving the sediments that had accumulated at the foot of the quarry face. Fortunately, some faunal remains and sediment were recovered, which were later processed and sorted. Two hundred and seventy small mammal remains were identified at genus or species level, bringing to light 15 taxa. The assemblage is typical of the Mammal Neogene 17 (MN17) biozone, placing this site in the Gelasian stage of the Early Pleistocene. It is noteworthy that the first record of the glirid Glirulus pusillus in Iberia is documented. Based on the small mammals identified, the surrounding environment of the Garraf Massif is judged to have been characterised by open forest landscape and more humid environmental conditions than nowadays. Finally, the site provides a remarkable contribution to what is known of the Iberian small mammals of this time period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Among hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae), the genus Ixodes comprises the highest number of species, which in turn are most numerous in the Afrotropical zoogeographic region. In South Africa extensive morphological studies have been performed on Ixodes species but only few reports included molecular analyses. Methods In this study, 58 Ixodes spp. ticks, collected from ten mammalian and eight avian host species in South Africa, were molecularly and phylogenetically analyzed. In addition, a newly collected sample of the Palearctic Ixodes trianguliceps was included in the analyses. Results Among the ticks from South Africa, 11 species were identified morphologically. The majority of ticks from mammals represented the Ixodes pilosus group with two species (n = 20), followed by ticks resembling Ixodes rubicundus (n = 18) and Ixodes alluaudi (n = 3). In addition, single specimens of Ixodes rhabdomysae, Ixodes ugandanus, Ixodes nairobiensis and Ixodes simplex were also found. Considering bird-infesting ticks, Ixodes theilerae (n = 7), Ixodes uriae (n = 4) and ticks most similar to Ixodes daveyi (provisionally named I. cf. daveyi, n = 2) were identified. Molecular analyses confirmed two species in the I. pilosus group and a new species (I. cf. rubicundus) closely related to I. rubicundus sensu stricto. Phylogenetic trees based on concatenated mitochondrial or mitochondrial and nuclear gene sequences indicated that the subgenus Afrixodes forms a monophyletic clade with bird-associated exophilic ticks (subgenus Trichotoixodes). Ixodes trianguliceps clustered separately whereas I. alluaudi with their morphologically assigned subgenus, Exopalpiger. Conclusions Phylogenetic analyses shed new lights on the relationships of Ixodes subgenera when including multiple sequences from subgenus Afrixodes and African as well as Palearctic species of subgenera Trichotoixodes and Exopalpiger. Subgenera Afrixodes and bird-associated Trichotoixodes share common ancestry, suggesting that the latter might have also originated in Africa. Regarding the subgenus Exopalpiger, I. alluaudi is properly assigned as it clusters among different Australian Ixodes, whereas I. trianguliceps should be excluded. Graphical Abstract

Of the 108 species that occur in Georgia, ten species are insectivores belonging to the order Eulipotyphla. Forty percent of them are endemic to the Caucasus and sixty percent are endemic to the Middle East, including the Caucasus. Up to now, no comprehensive data on the distribution of insectivores in Georgia have been available.The aggregated standardised data on the occurrence of small mammals can be applied to resource management, biogeography, ecological and systematic studies and to the planning of nature conservation efforts. Hereafter, the attempt to provide accumulated in one paper all known points of insectivores' occurrence in Georgia and make it available to researchers via the open repository GBIF is presented.The dataset is based on both literature data from 30 published sources (251 records), collection vouchers from four main zoological collections containing vouchers from Georgia (415 records) and authors' fieldwork results (217 records). The occurrence points of the specimens stored in collections and museums have been extracted from museum voucher labels and museum journals.All known sampling points of insectivores in Georgia are collected in one dataset for the first time. Our field surveillance data reach about 24.6% of the records. Most of our data collected since 2003 have not been published yet. About 28.4% of the records have been recovered from publications in Russian and Georgian languages and 47% of the dataset records are derived from collections.

Background: Among hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae), the genus Ixodes comprises the highest number of species, which in turn are most numerous in the Afrotropical zoogeographic region. In South Africa extensive morphological studies have been performed on Ixodes species but only few reports included molecular analyses. Methods: In this study, 58 Ixodes spp. ticks, collected from ten mammalian and eight avian host species in South Africa, were molecularly and phylogenetically analyzed. In addition, a newly collected sample of the Palearctic Ixodes trianguliceps was included in the analyses. Results: Among the ticks from South Africa, 11 species were identified morphologically. The majority of ticks from mammals represented the Ixodes pilosus group with two species (n = 20), followed by ticks resembling Ixodes rubicundus (n = 18) and Ixodes alluaudi (n = 3). In addition, single specimens of Ixodes rhabdomysae, Ixodes ugandanus, Ixodes nairobiensis and Ixodes simplex were also found. Considering bird-infesting ticks, Ixodes theilerae (n = 7), Ixodes uriae (n = 4) and ticks most similar to Ixodes daveyi (provisionally named I. cf. daveyi, n = 2) were identified. Molecular analyses confirmed two species in the I. pilosus group and a new species (I. cf. rubicundus) closely related to I. rubicundus sensu stricto. Phylogenetic trees based on concatenated mitochondrial or mitochondrial and nuclear gene sequences indicated that the subgenus Afrixodes forms a monophyletic clade with bird-associated exophilic ticks (subgenus Trichotoixodes). Ixodes trianguliceps clustered separately whereas I. alluaudi with their morphologically assigned subgenus, Exopalpiger. Conclusions: Phylogenetic analyses shed new lights on the relationships of Ixodes subgenera when including multiple sequences from subgenus Afrixodes and African as well as Palearctic species of subgenera Trichotoixodes and Exopalpiger. Subgenera Afrixodes and bird-associated Trichotoixodes share common ancestry, suggesting that the latter might have also originated in Africa. Regarding the subgenus Exopalpiger, I. alluaudi is properly assigned as it clusters among different Australian Ixodes, whereas I. trianguliceps should be excluded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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While sampling house mice in 2022 in the westernmost region of the Czech Republic, we also captured other small mammal species in and around farms. The sympatric shrew species were pre-identified based on morphological characteristics and genotyped using the mitochondrial cytochrome b marker. Among them, 14 specimens from five different localities were identified as the greater white-toothed shrew (Crocidura russula). With previous records from southern Saxony in Germany, our findings are the easternmost records of C. russula distribution in Europe and the first report of this species in the Czech Republic. The four other shrew species captured during fieldwork (C. suaveolens, C. leucodon, Sorex minutus, and S. araneus) are widely distributed in this country. The checklist of Eulipotyphla from the Czech Republic, which currently lists ten species (C. leucodon, C. suaveolens, S. alpinus, S. araneus, S. minutus, Neomys milleri, N. fodiens, Talpa europaea, Erinaceus europaeus, E. roumanicus), should now be updated with this new entry. The arrival of C. russula in the Czech Republic should be closely monitored as this species has been regularly reported for its competitive behaviour leading to the local extinction of resident shrew species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Of the 108 species that occur in Georgia, ten species are insectivores belonging to the order Eulipotyphla. Forty percent of them are endemic to the Caucasus and sixty percent are endemic to the Middle East, including the Caucasus. Up to now, no comprehensive data on the distribution of insectivores in Georgia have been available. The aggregated standardised data on the occurrence of small mammals can be applied to resource management, biogeography, ecological and systematic studies and to the planning of nature conservation efforts. Hereafter, the attempt to provide accumulated in one paper all known points of insectivores' occurrence in Georgia and make it available to researchers via the open repository GBIF is presented. The dataset is based on both literature data from 30 published sources (251 records), collection vouchers from four main zoological collections containing vouchers from Georgia (415 records) and authors' fieldwork results (217 records). The occurrence points of the specimens stored in collections and museums have been extracted from museum voucher labels and museum journals. New information All known sampling points of insectivores in Georgia are collected in one dataset for the first time. Our field surveillance data reach about 24.6% of the records. Most of our data collected since 2003 have not been published yet. About 28.4% of the records have been recovered from publications in Russian and Georgian languages and 47% of the dataset records are derived from collections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cryptotis goodwini species group of small-eared shrews (Eulipotyphla, Soricidae) includes at least 12 species discontinuously distributed in the cloud forests from southern Mexico to Honduras. Its taxonomy is still under study, with several species described only in the last decade. Previous genetic studies have highlighted that a population from El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve in Chiapas, Mexico, previously assigned to C. goodwini , is evolutionarily divergent from the other known species. However, the available specimens from this region have not been examined rigorously. Herein, I use morphological and biogeographic analyses to evaluate the taxonomic status of this population. The results confirm that it is an independent lineage, which I describe here as a new species endemic to Mexico. Overall, this is the largest shrew within the C. goodwini group. Its morphological and genetic distinction is probably due to long-term geographic isolation in the mountains of El Triunfo. I present what is now the first and only record of C. goodwini (sensu stricto) for Mexico. Finally, I identify some priority regions to direct field surveys on the C. goodwini species group to better understand its richness and distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Spatial processes and environmental filtering are important factors shaping community composition, but their effects are rarely tested across all aspects and components of beta diversity. We investigate both of these factors to explain patterns of taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic beta diversity of small mammals across Sub‐Saharan Africa. We predict that groups with poorest dispersal ability will experience the highest taxonomic and phylogenetic turnover but a nesting of functional diversity independent of dispersal. Location: Africa. Taxa: Rodents, bats, shrews. Methods: We amassed a continent‐spanning dataset of 97 bat assemblages, 166 rodent assemblages and 153 shrew assemblages comprising a total of 183, 225 and 109 species, respectively, from six bioregions of Sub‐Saharan Africa. We calculated three aspects of beta diversity: taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic. For each of these, we first calculated total beta diversity based on the Sørensen index (βsor) and then decomposed this into turnover (βsim) and nestedness (βnes) components. We then used Moran's Eigenvector Maps to examine the relationships between each aspect of beta diversity and environmental gradients (environmental filtering) and geographical distance between sites (spatial processes). Results: We found consistent patterns across the three taxa in all aspects of beta diversity, with taxonomic beta diversity being greatest and phylogenetic beta diversity being lowest. The turnover component was typically greater than the nestedness component for taxonomic and functional beta diversity, but not for phylogenetic beta diversity, for all three groups. Beta diversity was also linked with the dispersal ability of the three groups, with the highest levels of beta diversity found in shrews, intermediate levels in rodents and the lowest levels in bats. Main Conclusions: Spatial processes, which are linked to the dispersal abilities of the three taxa of small mammal, dominate environmental drivers in structuring African small‐mammal communities with phylogenetic comparisons suggesting a relatively permeable continent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the upper Oligocene (MP 28) of Enspel associated material of a dimylid is described. The find includes the skull and the right mandible; most of the teeth are preserved. In addition, a tibiofibula is described. Thus, this specimen represents the most comprehensive find of a dimylid individual. The specimen can be assigned to the species Exoedaenodus schaubi. For the first time, a reliable assignment of maxilla and mandible for this genus is possible. The dentition confirms the assumed basal position of Exoedaenodus within the Dimylidae based on the dental formula, in which at most one lower incisor position is reduced and M3 and m3 are present. The interrupted zygomatic arch represents a derived condition, as does the fusion of the tibia and fibula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Faunivorous mammals with simple guts are thought to rely primarily on endogenously produced enzymes to digest food, in part because they lack fermentation chambers for facilitating mutualistic interactions with microbes. However, variation in microbial community composition along the length of the gastrointestinal tract has yet to be assessed in faunivorous species with simple guts. We tested for differences in bacterial taxon abundances and community compositions between the small intestines and colons of 26 individuals representing four species of shrew in the genus Crocidura. We sampled these hosts from a single locality on Sulawesi Island, Indonesia, to control for potential geographic and temporal variation. Bacterial community composition differed significantly between the two gut regions and members of the family Mycoplasmataceae contributed substantially to these differences. Three operational taxonomic units (OTUs) of an unclassified genus in this family were more abundant in the small intestine, whereas 1 OTU of genus Ureaplasma was more abundant in the colon. Species of Ureaplasma encode an enzyme that degrades urea, a metabolic byproduct of protein catabolism. Additionally, a Hafnia–Obesumbacterium OTU, a genus known to produce chitinase in bat gastrointestinal tracts, was also more abundant in the colon compared to the small intestine. The presence of putative chitinase- and urease-producing bacteria in shrew guts suggests mutualisms with microorganisms play a role in facilitating the protein-rich, faunivorous diets of simple gut mammals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dental remains of the erinaceid Galerix rutlandae and a talpid attributed to the subfamily Uropsilinae are reported, the first members of these families from the Miocene Siwalik exposures of India. They come from deposits equivalent to the Chinji Formation at Ramnagar, northwestern India. Uropsilinae is recorded for the first time from the Indian subcontinent. This finding extends the spatial range of the subfamily and indicates that this immigrant reached the Indian subcontinent from the west, but could not survive past the Miocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pneumocystis spp. are thought to adapt to the lungs of potentially all mammals. However, the full host range, fungal burden and severity of infection are unknown for many species. In this study, lung tissue samples originating from 845 animals of 31 different families of eight mammal orders were screened by in situ hybridization (ISH) using a universal 18S rRNA probe for Pneumocystis, followed by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining for determining histopathological lesions. A total of 216 (26%) samples were positive for Pneumocystis spp., encompassing 36 of 98 investigated mammal species, with 17 of them being described for the first time for the presence of Pneumocystis spp. The prevalence of Pneumocystis spp. as assessed by ISH varied greatly among different mammal species while the organism load was overall low, suggesting a status of colonization or subclinical infection. Severe Pneumocystis pneumonia seemed to be very rare. For most of the Pneumocystis-positive samples, comparative microscopic examination of H&E- and ISH-stained serial sections revealed an association of the fungus with minor lesions, consistent with an interstitial pneumonia. Colonization or subclinical infection of Pneumocystis in the lung might be important in many mammal species because the animals may serve as a reservoir. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The eastern mole, Scalopus aquaticus (L.), is a common inhabitant of loamy soils in Canada, the eastern United States, and Mexico. Seven coccidian parasites have been previously reported from S. aquaticus, including 3 cyclosporans and 4 eimerians from hosts taken in Arkansas and Texas. A single S. aquaticus, collected in February 2022 in central Arkansas, was found to be passing oocysts of 2 coccidians, a new species of Eimeria, and Cyclospora yatesi McAllister, Motriuk-Smith, and Kerr, 2018. Oocysts of Eimeria brotheri n. sp. are ellipsoidal (sometimes ovoidal) with a smooth bilayered wall, measure 14.0 X 9.9 lm, and have a length/width (L/W) ratio of 1.5; both micropyle and oocyst residua are absent, but a single polar granule is present. Sporocysts are ellipsoidal and measure 8.1 X 4.6 lm, L/W 1.8; a flattened to knoblike Stieda body as well as a rounded sub-Stieda body are present. The sporocyst residuum is composed of an irregular mass of large granules. Additional metrical and morphological information is provided on oocysts of C. yatesi. This study demonstrates that although several coccidians were previously documented from this host, additional S. aquaticus should be examined for coccidians from Arkansas as well as other parts of its range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolution of venom and the selection pressures that act on toxins have been increasingly researched within toxinology in the last two decades, in part due to the exceptionally high rates of diversifying selection observed in animal toxins. In 2015, Sungar and Moran proposed the 'two-speed' model of toxin evolution linking evolutionary age of a group to the rates of selection acting on toxins but due to a lack of data, mammals were not included as less than 30 species of venomous mammal have been recorded, represented by elusive species which produce small amounts of venom. Due to advances in genomics and transcriptomics, the availability of toxin sequences from venomous mammals has been increasing. Using branch- and site-specific selection models, we present the rates of both episodic and pervasive selection acting upon venomous mammal toxins as a group for the first time. We identified seven toxin groups present within venomous mammals, representing Chiroptera, Eulipotyphla and Monotremata: KLK1, Plasminogen Activator, Desmallipins, PACAP, CRiSP, Kunitz Domain One and Kunitz Domain Two. All but one group (KLK1) was identified by our results to be evolving under both episodic and pervasive diversifying selection with four toxin groups having sites that were implicated in the fitness of the animal by TreeSAAP (Selection on Amino Acid Properties). Our results suggest that venomous mammal ecology, behaviour or genomic evolution are the main drivers of selection, although evolutionary age may still be a factor. Our conclusion from these results indicates that mammalian toxins are following the two-speed model of selection, evolving predominately under diversifying selection, fitting in with other younger venomous taxa like snakes and cone snails—with high amounts of accumulating mutations, leading to more novel adaptions in their toxins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Kargil Formation in the region of Ladakh (northern India) is known for its late Oligocene mammal fauna of both large mammals and rodents. New excavations in the area yielded a maxillary fragment of an insectivore with three premolars and two roots of a canine. The fossil record of the insectivores on the Indian subcontinent is as yet scanty. Based on the peculiar morphology of the last premolar, the Ladakh fossil could be identified as belonging to a new species of Erinaceinae, Ladakhechinus iugummontis n. gen. n. sp. The new find confirms the large diversity among hedgehogs in Asia during the Oligocene.

The African pygmy hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris) is commonly considered as a pet animal, which makes it widely studied. This study focused on lingual morphology due to its relation to the type of food consumed. Light and scanning electron microscopy on the tongues of 3 adult male hedgehogs was performed. Five types of papillae were distinguished on the dorsal lingual surface: filiform (fork‐like), conical, fungiform, vallate and foliate. Small conical papillae covered the dorsal surface of the apex, filiform (fork‐like) papillae were found on the corpus, fungiform papillae were scattered among conical as well as fork‐like papillae. Three vallate papillae localized on the lingual radix were arranged in an inverted V shape. Taste buds were opened to the circumpapillary sulcus. Histochemical analysis of seromucous salivary glands in the radix and purely serous glands in the vicinity of the vallate papillae showed the composition of their secretions in more detail. A comparison of the ultrastructure of the tongue within the family Erinaceidae was performed, as well as to species with similar feeding habits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An increasing number of studies have investigated spatial and temporal patterns in species richness and assemblage composition in mountain ecosystems along altitudinal gradients. Small mammals have been successfully used as indicators of environmental health and as proxies of biodiversity. However, information about the composition and distribution of species assemblages in the mosaic of habitat and rocky landform types at a high altitude is still lacking for most of the mountain regions. Through the use of live traps and camera trapping, we described the small mammal community living above the treeline of the Western Dolomites (Italian Alps), investigating the species richness, abundance of individuals and community composition in relation to topographic, micrometeorological, mesohabitat, and biological correlates. A total of five species and 50 individuals were sampled, analysed, and released. At the extremes of the analysed altitudinal range (i.e. 1900 vs 2900 m a.s.l.), community composition was completely different and species richness was related to elevation, steepness, and vegetation cover. At the same time, the taxonomic distinctness of ground-dwelling arthropods (namely carabid beetles and spiders), a proxy of habitat complexity, showed higher values in areas with a greater small mammal species richness. We found a positive effect of steepness and rocky landform type "carsism" on the number of captured individuals, showing the importance of the availability of shelters and underground burrows for the sampled species. As a confirmation of the altitudinal shift for these species in relation to the ongoing climate change, we detected a negative impact of sub-surface ground temperature on small mammal abundance during the monitoring period. In conclusion, small mammals represent an excellent model for understanding the evolutionary processes of ecosystems, population dynamics under changing environmental conditions, and habitat vulnerabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Orthohantaviruses (genus Orthohantavirus) are a diverse group of viruses that are closely associated with their natural hosts (rodents, shrews, and moles). Several orthohantaviruses cause severe disease in humans. Central and western Europe are areas with emerging orthohantavirus occurrences. In our study, several orthohantaviruses, including the pathogenic Kurkino virus (KURV), were detected in their natural hosts trapped at several study sites in the Czech Republic. KURV was detected mainly in its typical host, the striped field mouse (Apodemus agrarius). Nevertheless, spillover infections were also detected in wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus) and common voles (Microtus arvalis). Similarly, Tula virus (TULV) was found primarily in common voles, and events of spillover to rodents of other host species, including Apodemus spp., were recorded. In addition, unlike most previous studies, different tissues were sampled and compared to assess their suitability for orthohantavirus screening and possible tissue tropism. Our data suggest possible virus-specific tissue tropism in rodent hosts. TULV was most commonly detected in the lung tissue, whereas KURV was more common in the liver, spleen, and brain. Moreover, Seewis and Asikkala viruses were detected in randomly found common shrews (Sorex araneus). In conclusion, we have demonstrated the presence of human-pathogenic KURV and the potentially pathogenic TULV in their typical hosts as well as their spillover to atypical host species belonging to another family. Furthermore, we suggest the possibility of virus-specific tissue tropism of orthohantaviruses in their natural hosts. IMPORTANCE Orthohantaviruses (genus Orthohantavirus, family Hantaviridae) are a diverse group of globally distributed viruses that are closely associated with their natural hosts. Some orthohantaviruses are capable of infecting humans and causing severe disease. Orthohantaviruses are considered emerging pathogens due to their ever-increasing diversity and increasing numbers of disease cases. We report the detection of four different orthohantaviruses in rodents and shrews in the Czech Republic. Most viruses were found in their typical hosts, Kurkino virus (KURV) in striped field mice (Apodemus agrarius), Tula virus (TULV) in common voles (Microtus arvalis), and Seewis virus in common shrews (Sorex araneus). Nevertheless, spillover infections of atypical host species were also recorded for KURV, TULV, and another shrew-borne orthohantavirus, Asikkala virus. In addition, indications of virus-specific patterns of tissue tropism were observed. Our results highlight the circulation of several orthohantaviruses, including KURV, which is pathogenic to humans, among rodents and shrews in the Czech Republic.

The immune systems of all vertebrates contain cathelicidins, a family of antimicrobial peptides. Cathelicidins are a type of innate immune effector that have a number of biological functions, including a well-known direct antibacterial action and immunomodulatory function. In search of new templates for antimicrobial peptide discovery, we have identified and characterized the cathelicidin of the small mammal Talpa occidentalis. We describe the heterogeneity of cathelicidin in the order Eulipotyphla in relation to the Iberian mole and predict its antibacterial activity using bioinformatics tools. In an effort to correlate these findings, we derived the putative active peptide and performed in vitro hemolysis and antimicrobial activity assays, confirming that Iberian mole cathelicidins are antimicrobial. Our results showed that the Iberian mole putative peptide, named To-KL37 (KLFGKVGNLLQKGWQKIKNIGRRIKDFFRNIRPMQEA) has antibacterial and antifungal activity. Understanding the antimicrobial defense of insectivores may help scientists prevent the spread of pathogens to humans. We hope that this study can also provide new, effective antibacterial peptides for future drug development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mammals are threatened worldwide, with ~26% of all species being included in the IUCN threatened categories. This overall pattern is primarily associated with habitat loss or degradation, and human persecution for terrestrial mammals, and pollution, open net fishing, climate change, and prey depletion for marine mammals. Mammals play a key role in maintaining ecosystems functionality and resilience, and therefore information on their distribution is crucial to delineate and support conservation actions. MAMMALS IN PORTUGAL is a publicly available data set compiling unpublished georeferenced occurrence records of 92 terrestrial, volant, and marine mammals in mainland Portugal and archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira that includes 105,026 data entries between 1873 and 2021 (72% of the data occurring in 2000 and 2021). The methods used to collect the data were: live observations/captures (43%), sign surveys (35%), camera trapping (16%), bioacoustics surveys (4%) and radiotracking, and inquiries that represent less than 1% of the records. The data set includes 13 types of records: (1) burrows | soil mounds | tunnel, (2) capture, (3) colony, (4) dead animal | hair | skulls | jaws, (5) genetic confirmation, (6) inquiries, (7) observation of live animal (8), observation in shelters, (9) photo trapping | video, (10) predators diet | pellets | pine cones/nuts, (11) scat | track | ditch, (12) telemetry and (13) vocalization | echolocation. The spatial uncertainty of most records ranges between 0 and 100 m (76%). Rodentia (n =31,573) has the highest number of records followed by Chiroptera (n = 18,857), Carnivora (n = 18,594), Lagomorpha (n = 17,496), Cetartiodactyla (n = 11,568) and Eulipotyphla (n = 7008). The data set includes records of species classified by the IUCN as threatened (e.g., Oryctolagus cuniculus [n = 12,159], Monachus monachus [n = 1,512], and Lynx pardinus [n = 197]). We believe that this data set may stimulate the publication of other European countries data sets that would certainly contribute to ecology and conservation‐related research, and therefore assisting on the development of more accurate and tailored conservation management strategies for each species. There are no copyright restrictions; please cite this data paper when the data are used in publications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding past climatic changes is one of the central challenges in palaeontological research. The Bioclimatic Model (BM) enables the reconstruction of qualitative and quantitative climatic conditions using the fossil record of rodents and eulipotyphlans. Here, we applied this model to the rich and well-documented fossil record from the localities of the Sierra de Atapuerca karst complex, including six archaeological and palaeontological sites spanning nearly continuously from the Early Pleistocene to the Late Holocene ∼1.2 Ma - 3.1 ka. A typical temperate climate was inferred for most of the sequence, with variations between Mediterranean and temperate climates, and the influence of boreal climates during the Late Pleistocene cold climatic oscillations recorded in El Portalón and El Mirador assemblages. The record from the base of the sequence of Sima del Elefante (TELRU, TE7-TE14) indicates relatively warmer conditions than the current climate, and a trend of thermal increase was observed from the end of Calabrian and Chibanian based on the Gran Dolina levels TD6 and TD8. Additionally, we obtained a thermotype classification reflecting regional-scale climatic changes linked to shifts in altitudinal belts boundaries. This work constitutes the first, diachronic, bioclimatic analysis of the entire biostratigraphic sequence of the Atapuerca site complex, providing an updated synthesis of long-term climatic reconstruction over more than one million years. • A typical temperate climate dominates over one million years at the Sierra de Atapuerca. • Thermorype classification changes suggest altitudinal shifts of their boundaries. • Major climatic variations were associated to glacial pulses of the Upper Pleistocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wetlands are ecosystems that provide many essential functions in landscape. Despite their importance and many studies involving small mammals, there is not much comprehensive information about these organisms in moist reed biotopes in the studied area. The present study was carried out at two localities in the west of Slovakia in 2015-2017. Nine species (434 individuals) of small terrestrial mammals were detected at the studied localities: Apodemus flavicollis, A. sylvaticus, Clethrionomys glareolus, Crocidura leucodon, Micromys minutus, Microtus arvalis, Mus spicilegus, Sorex araneus and S. minutus. Diversity and abundance, dominancy, sex ratio seasonal dynamics of the species were estimated and discussed. The most abundant were C. glareolus and S. araneus. Shannon-Wiener diversity and Pielou's evenness indices of the studied wetlands were relatively high (H=1.78, E=0.81). The study complements information about small mammal occurrence and population ecology in reed wetlands from other parts of Slovakia, creating a basis for further environmental studies. The results are compared with those from some Bulgarian wetlands belonging to the same river basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The landscape of south-western Slovakia is characterised by anthropogenous reshaping, while fragments of undisturbed, waterlogged habitats have been preserved in what remains of the meandering ancient Žitava River. These refuges are inhabited by various small mammal species and their blood-sucking ectoparasites. Between 2014 and 2018, research on them was carried out in Slovakia’s Danubian Lowland (Podunajská nížina) during three out of the four seasons (spring, summer and autumn). The small mammals were captured at 27 localities. The occurrence of nine flee species from the Hystrichopsyllidae, Ctenophthalmidae and Ceratophyllidae families was documented on 12 small burrowing mammals. During the course of all the seasons in which research was conducted, Ctenophthalmus agyrtes, C. assimilis, Megabothris turbidus a Nosopsyllus fasciatus were found, among the most dominant species to be seen on small burrowing mammals.

Research into small mammals and their ectoparasites was carried out in the Belianske Tatras during 2010–14, evaluating flea communities found on small mammals on the basis of species richness, abundance and level of infestation. Flea infestation of host species occurred mostly in C. glareolus with the highest infestation rates recorded in S. alpinus, the earlier mentioned C. glareolus, N. anomalus and N. fodiens. Based on their prevalence in all the examined hosts, the most frequent flea communities found were M. turbidus, C. agyrtes, A. penicilliger and P. soricis. In addition, flea prevalence in all the captured host species was evaluated. The most frequent flea communities were M. turbidus, P. soricis and D. dasycnema (8 host species); C. agyrtes and H. orientalis (7); A. penicilliger and P. bidentata (4); C. uncinatus, P. sylvatica and R. integela (3); and M. rectangulatus, N. fasciatus and C. bisoctodentatus (2), while A. nuperus and A. arvicolae were recorded in only one host species.

The evolution of venom and the selection pressures that act on toxins have been increasingly researched within toxinology in the last two decades, in part due to the exceptionally high rates of diversifying selection observed in animal toxins. In 2015, Sungar and Moran proposed the ‘two-speed’ model of toxin evolution linking evolutionary age of a group to the rates of selection acting on toxins but due to a lack of data, mammals were not included as less than 30 species of venomous mammal have been recorded, represented by elusive species which produce small amounts of venom. Due to advances in genomics and transcriptomics, the availability of toxin sequences from venomous mammals has been increasing. Using branch- and site-specific selection models, we present the rates of both episodic and pervasive selection acting upon venomous mammal toxins as a group for the first time. We identified seven toxin groups present within venomous mammals, representing Chiroptera, Eulipotyphla and Monotremata: KLK1, Plasminogen Activator, Desmallipins, PACAP, CRiSP, Kunitz Domain One and Kunitz Domain Two. All but one group (KLK1) was identified by our results to be evolving under both episodic and pervasive diversifying selection with four toxin groups having sites that were implicated in the fitness of the animal by TreeSAAP (Selection on Amino Acid Properties). Our results suggest that venomous mammal ecology, behaviour or genomic evolution are the main drivers of selection, although evolutionary age may still be a factor. Our conclusion from these results indicates that mammalian toxins are following the two-speed model of selection, evolving predominately under diversifying selection, fitting in with other younger venomous taxa like snakes and cone snails—with high amounts of accumulating mutations, leading to more novel adaptions in their toxins.

A comparative analysis of taxonomic diversity on shrew cestodes among four islands in the Sea of Japan and the Sea of Okhotsk (Sakhalin, Kunashir, Hokkaido, and Moneron) was performed. Cestode species shared among the islands were identified and their host specificity was investigated. On Sakhalin Island, 33 species of the families Hymenolepididae, Dilepididae and Mesocestoididae were recorded in four shrew species ( Sorex caecutiens , S. gracillimus , S. minutissimus and S. unguiculatus ). In S. caecutiens , S. gracillimus , and S. unguiculatus on Kunashir Island, 22 species of the same families were found and, on Hokkaido Island, 23 species of the families Hymenolepididae and Dilepididae were recorded. On Moneron Island, three species of cestodes were registered in S. tundrensis. The Sakhalin-Hokkaido-Kunashir complex of shrew cestodes includes eastern-Palearctic, trans-Palearctic and endemic species. High endemism (~22%) of shrew tapeworms in the Sakhalin-Kunashir-Hokkaido Islands was noted as compared to continental territories. The different numbers of cestode species in S. unguiculatus (31), S. caecutiens (29), S. gracillimus (19) and S. minutissimus (1) were found. It was concluded that the cestodes species diversity of shrews of Sakhalin-Kunashir-Hokkaido depended primarily on the history of island formation, their modern physical and geographical features, the abundance of definitive and intermediate cestodes hosts and, to a lesser extent, on the size and remoteness of the islands from the mainland and the diversity of host species.

Aim: To explore global patterns in spatial aggregations of species richness, vulnerability and data deficiency for Rodentia and Eulipotyphla. To evaluate the adequacy of existing protected area (PA) network for these areas. To provide a focus for local conservation initiatives. Location: Global. Methods: Total species, globally threatened (GT) species, and Data Deficient (DD) species richness were calculated for a 1° resolution grid. Correspondence analyses between global species richness against GT species richness were performed. To assess PA network adequacy, a correspondence analysis was conducted to identify areas of high richness and GT species richness that have poor protection. Results: Six hotspots were identified for GT eulipotyphlans, encompassing 40% of GT species. Three of these contain higher numbers of GT species than would be expected based on their overall species richness. Ten priority regions were identified for GT rodents, which together contain 34% of all GT species. Six contain higher numbers of GT rodent species than would be expected based on their overall species richness. For DD species, 15% of DD eulipotyphlans were represented within three priority regions, whereas 18 were identified for rodents, capturing 53% of all DD species. Areas containing lower numbers of protected GT eulipotyphlan species than expected include Mexico; Cameroonian Highlands; Albertine Rift; Tanzania; Kenya; Ethiopia; western Asia; India; and Sri Lanka. Areas containing lower numbers of protected GT rodent species than expected are Borneo, Sumatra and Sulawesi. Five eulipotyphlans and 44 rodents have ranges which fall completely outside of PAs. Main conclusion: Rodentia and Eulipotyphla priority regions should be considered separately to one another and to other mammals. This analysis approach allows us to pinpoint and delineate geographical areas which represent key regions at a global level for rodents and eulipotyphlans, in order to facilitate conservation, field research and capacity building at a local level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vector and host abundance affect infection transmission rates, prevalence, and persistence in communities. Biological diversity in hosts and vectors may provide "rescue" hosts which buffer against pathogen extinction and "dilution" hosts which reduce the force of infection in communities. Anaplasma phagocytophilum is a tick-transmitted zoonotic pathogen that circulates in small mammal and tick communities characterized by varying levels of biological diversity. We examined the prevalence of A. phagocytophilum in Ixodes spp. ticks in 11 communities in northern and central California. A total of 1020 ticks of 8 species was evaluated. Five percent of ticks (5 species) were PCR-positive, with the highest prevalence (6-7%) in I. pacificus and I. ochotonae. In most species, adults had a higher prevalence than nymphs or larvae. PCR prevalence varied between 0% and 40% across sites; the infection probability in ticks increased with infestation load and prevalence in small mammals, but not tick species richness, diversity, evenness, or small mammal species richness. No particular tick species was likely to "rescue" infection in the community; rather the risk of A. phagocytophilum infection is related to exposure to particular tick species and life stages, and overall tick abundance.

The immune systems of all vertebrates contain cathelicidins, a family of antimicrobial peptides. Cathelicidins are a type of innate immune effector that have a number of biological functions, including a well-known direct antibacterial action and immunomodulatory function. In search of new templates for antimicrobial peptide discovery, we have identified and characterized the cathelicidin of the small mammal Talpa occidentalis. We describe the heterogeneity of cathelicidin in the order Eulipotyphla in relation to the Iberian mole and predict its antibacterial activity using bioinformatics tools. In an effort to correlate these findings, we derived the putative active peptide and performed in vitro hemolysis and antimicrobial activity assays, confirming that Iberian mole cathelicidins are antimicrobial. Our results showed that the Iberian mole putative peptide, named To-KL37 (KLFGKVGNLLQKGWQKIKNIGRRIKDFFRNIRPMQEA) has antibacterial and antifungal activity. Understanding the antimicrobial defense of insectivores may help scientists prevent the spread of pathogens to humans. We hope that this study can also provide new, effective antibacterial peptides for future drug development.

The speciose mammalian order Eulipotyphla (moles, shrews, hedgehogs, solenodons) combines an unusual diversity of semi-aquatic, semi-fossorial, and fossorial forms that arose from terrestrial forbearers. However, our understanding of the ecomorphological pathways leading to these lifestyles has been confounded by a fragmentary fossil record, unresolved phylogenetic relationships, and potential morphological convergence, calling for novel approaches. The net surface charge of the oxygen-storing muscle protein myoglobin (ZMb), which can be readily determined from its primary structure, provides an objective target to address this question due to mechanistic linkages with myoglobin concentration. Here, we generate a comprehensive 71 species molecular phylogeny that resolves previously intractable intra-family relationships and then ancestrally reconstruct ZMb evolution to identify ancient lifestyle transitions based on protein sequence alone. Our phylogenetically informed analyses confidently resolve fossorial habits having evolved twice in talpid moles and reveal five independent secondary aquatic transitions in the order housing the world’s smallest endothermic divers.

Peninsular effect is an anomalous gradient in plant and animal species richness from base to tip of a given peninsula. This pattern has been studied intensely on various taxonomic groups, but with scarce attention for using standardized data. Here, using presence-absence data normalized by the field effort, the peninsular effect on the species richness of some mammalian groups (Eulipotyphla [i.e. Soricomorpha + Erinaceomorpha], Rodentia, and Chiroptera) was analyzed along the Italian peninsula. Specifically, species richness at each 30′-wide latitudinal band and the normalized species richness were compared, and generalized linear models (GLM) were used to assess whether habitat diversity, altitudinal range and area of each latitudinal band were the main predictors in explaining the peninsular effects in each of the three mammalian orders. In both Rodentia and Chiroptera, species richness was better predicted by habitat heterogeneity and by the interaction term habitat heterogeneity × field effort. For Eulipotyphla, GLM models gave no significant results. Our study highlighted the importance of taking into account the sampling effort in order to proper evaluate the peninsular effects on species richness in animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Upper Guinea rainforest zone in West Africa is considered a biodiversity hotspot and contains important habitats for threatened and endemic mammals, yet this region remains poorly known particularly for small mammals. The aim of this study was to survey small mammals in a Liberian and Guinean cross-border conservation area, the Ziama-Wonegizi-Wologizi landscape. We recorded a total of 52 small mammal species, including 26 bats, 15 rodents, 10 shrews, one otter-shrew, of which one rodent species was new to science (Colomys sp. nov.). We also documented the first country records of the bats Chaerephon aloysiisabaudiae, Pseudoromicia brunnea and Pipistrellus inexspectatus from Guinea, and the shrews Crocidura douceti and Crocidura grandiceps from Liberia. Furthermore, we recorded the recently described bat Nycticeinops happoldorum from Wologizi and Ziama, and we documented the presence of Micropotamogale lamottei at Wologizi, which represents the fourth known locality for this globally threatened species. Finally, the forests of Wologizi and Ziama support numerous threatened species. The results of our survey demonstrate the importance of this region for small mammals and support the creation of a transboundary protected area that will encompass the entire forest landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Nelson´s small-eared shrew, Cryptotis nelsoni (Merriam, 1895), is a critically endangered species, endemic to cloud forests in Los Tuxtlas, a mountain range along the Gulf of Mexico coast. This species is only known from the type locality and its surroundings. Here we present new records that extend its distribution approximately 7 km southeast of the type locality and report more specimens near to the type locality. We also identified climatically suitable areas for C. nelsoni using ecological niche modelling and investigated the sampling bias to identify poorly sampled areas in Los Tuxtlas. We suggest that the scarcity of records in other areas with suitable climatic conditions throughout Los Tuxtlas is a consequence of incomplete surveys. We strongly highlight the importance of continuing surveying this critically endangered shrew using more efficient sampling techniques to better understand its current distribution and conservation status. Despite all known localities occurring inside Los Tuxtlas Biosphere Reserve, deforestation and climate change still pose current and future threats to this species.

The Vallès-Penedès Basin in Catalonia (NE Spain) forms a biogeographically important connection between central Europe and the Iberian Peninsula. Whereas this is well documented for the late middle and early late Miocene, the early Miocene sequence has received far less attention. New excavations yielded micromammal assemblages from the Ramblian and early Aragonian. Among the euliphotyhplans and metatherian studied, we recognize seven non-soricid species (Amphiperatherium frequens von Meyer, 1846, Galerix symeonidisi Doukas, 1986 and Galerix remmerti van den Hoek Ostende, 2003, Desmanodon daamsi van den Hoek Ostende, 1997, Heterosorex neumayrianus Schlosser, 1887, Chainodus sp., Plesiodimylus sp.) and six species of shrews (Paenelimnoecus sp., Miosorex sp., cf. Clapasorex, cf. Oligosorex, cf. Florinia sp. and Soricinae indet.). They confirm the intermediate position of the Vallès-Penedès also at the time of the older faunas, but show that differences with the Iberian inland were less pronounced. These differences can be explained by higher humidity in the coastal region, as indicated by the presence of dimylids. The differences between this coastal area and inland basin confirm the potential of coastal regions as migration corridors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A unique record of the desert shrew in Zacatecas, Mexico, is known and has been collected since 1897 in the locality "El Plateado" within the municipality of El Plateado de Joaquin Amaro, Zacatecas. On October 2016, two specimens were collected from the municipality of Susticacán, Zacatecas, Mexico. A morphological identification and phylogenetic analysis based on partial sequences of cytochrome b oxidase of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) were implemented. Morphology and the phylogenetic trees that were recovered by using maximum-likelihood (ML) confirmed the identity of these specimens as Notiosorex crawfordi. This is the second record for the species in Zacatecas, Mexico, after 121 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tongue of the lesser hedgehog tenrec (Echinops telfairi) was evaluated by light and scanning electron microscopy. Dorsal and lateral surfaces of the tongue were densely covered with various types of lingual papillae. Two types of mechanical papillae (filiform and conical) and two types of sensory papillae (fungiform and vallate) were observed. Rostrocaudally, the number of spikes in filiform papillae increased. Filiform, crown-like papillae were found on the radix, as well as large conical papillae with a wide base and a caudally bent single spike. Fungiform papillae were scattered in four rows on the dorsal surface. Three vallate papillae in inverse triangular layout were developed in the area of the lingual radix. Taste buds were found in the sensory papillae, i.e., fungiform and vallate. The lingual glands were predominantly seromucous. These glands were evenly scattered from the caudal portion of the lingual apex to the lingual radix. Purely serous glands were localized close to vallate papillae. A histochemical analysis of glands was performed. Results were compared to the Afrotheria (tenrec's relatives) and Eulipotyphla (animals with similar feeding habits to tenrecs). This study is the first description of the lingual morphology in the member of the Order Afrosoricida. Moreover, it compares the effect of the phylogenetic relation to the effect of the feeding habits on the lingual morphology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is the first study of analyzing and identifying the hedgehog community in Egypt using a molecular marker especially it includes the Four-toed Hedgehog which is found in Gebel Elba but has never been signalized in Egypt. Thirty-two specimens are representing seven species and subspecies of hedgehogs were sampled. Five external measurements and eight cranial measurements were used. DNA was extracted and cytochrome b gene sequences data were analyzed. Maximum Likelihood tree based on Cyt b sequences reveals that there are two separate genetic clusters, one cluster for genus Atelerix and the other includes Hemiechinus and Paraechinus members. Genetic relationship between three subspecies of genus Paraechinus was detected, the morphological relationship was studied but there is a difficult to distinguish between them. These results strongly suggest that cytochrome b gene has been confirmed as an effective tool among mitochondrial genes, with high power of differentiation for species identification and characterization in both taxonomy and forensic science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: African pygmy hedgehogs (Atelerix albiventris) are popular companion animals that require chemical immobilization to facilitate examination. The objective of this study was to evaluate effects of isoflurane anesthetic duration on recovery time, food intake, and body weight following anesthesia in African pygmy hedgehogs. Methods: Eight healthy, adult hedgehogs (4 male, 4 female) were used in this randomized, blinded, complete cross-over study. Two different isoflurane anesthetic durations of 15 minutes (ISO15) and 45 minutes (ISO45) were evaluated with a 2-week wash-out period between treatments. Physiologic parameters, reflexes, and behaviors were monitored to assess anesthesia quality. Food intake (grams of food per kg of body weight) and body weight were measured both before and after anesthesia to assess postsedation effects. Result: There was no statistically significant difference in body weight between or within treatments following the anesthetic events. A decrease in postanesthetic food intake from baseline values was noted with both treatments (ISO15: −16% [−40% to 167%]); (ISO45: −13% [−38% to 43%]), but these fluctuations were not statistically significant between or within treatments. The total amount of food consumed per hedgehog over the 6 days following anesthesia was 99 ± 23 g/kg (ISO15) and 108 ± 28 g/kg (ISO45, P = 0.15). Conclusions and clinical relevance: Differences in duration of isoflurane anesthesia of either 15 or 45 minutes does not have a clinically relevant effect on recovery time or postanesthetic food intake in hedgehogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unlike the rodents of the local zone C (MN 2) fauna of Gökler, the faunal list of the insectivores shows little surprises. The fauna is dominated by the gymnure Galerix saratji and the enigmatic talpid Suleimania ruemkae, both present in such numbers that for the first time the anterior dentition could be reconstructed. In the case of Galerix, these new data show that the older species had a relatively long premolar row and a conspicuously high p2/p3 ratio. Other eulipotyphlans are the moles Theratiskos rutgeri and Desmanodon sp., the dimylid Turkodimylus sp., the heterosoricid Dinosorex anatolicus and the shrews Oligosorex aff. reumeri and Soricid I. Overall, the diversity indicates a humid environment, as is usual for the early Miocene lignite bed faunas of Anatolia. The relatively low number of Theratiskos, shared with other B-C faunas from central Anatolia, suggests a difference between the environments in that region and those further to the south. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small mammals are key elements of terrestrial ecosystems, yet in south-eastern Europe many questions about their taxonomy and distribution remain unanswered. This is particularly true for the small mammal fauna of Greece. We investigated the distribution of small mammals in the district of Evros (NE Greece) through Tyto alba pellet analysis and live-trapping in 19 localities (29 samplings). We collected remains from a total 2434 individual vertebrates through pellet analyses and captured 110 small mammals through live trapping. We provide data on the distribution and community composition in the corresponding localities, for 17 small mammal species (11 rodents and 6 insectivores). Our findings include the first record of Myomimus roachi in Greece, a result facilitated by the yearly dynamics of Microtus sp. populations, as well as the first record of Sorex minutus in Evros. The Barn owl's main prey (by percentage, allocated to genera) were Crocidura (29.7%) Mus (27%) Microtus (23.2%) and Apodemus (13%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of the new material from Aubenas-les-Alpes makes it possible to add to the faunal list taxa hitherto unknown in this locality (Neurogymnurus cayluxi , Issiodoromys minor , Eomys minor , Pseudocricetodon cf. hausi , Pseudocricetodon aff. philippi). New specimens of the shrew Srinitium marteli increase our knowledge of this rare insectivore. The characteristics of the theridomorph I. minor confirm, as does the whole rodent fauna, the correlation with the MP25 level (Late Rupelian). The assemblage of Aubenas-les-Alpes indicates a rather open and dry environment, in accordance with the Early Oligocene climatic context, but some differences compared to other localities of the same age are also noticed. Finally the mammalian assemblage suggests an ongoing biogeographic differentiation at European scale during the Late Rupelian. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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