Pearson's long-clawed shrew


Pearson's long-clawed shrew is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is monotypic within the genus Solisorex. It is endemic to Sri Lanka. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland. It is threatened by habitat loss. It is known as ශ්‍රී ලංකා නියදිගු මා හික් මීයා in Sinhala.
It is named after Dr Joseph Pearson FRSE, Director of the Columbo Museum 1910-1933 who found it on 1 January 1924.

Description

Head and body length 12–13 cm, and tail is 6–7 cm. Dark grayish-brown above, light tips to hairs. Underside paler. Claws of forefeet long, middle claw about 5mm. Forefeet are brown in color. Tail is dark brown above and lighter below. It lacks hair. Fur not as velvety as in other shrews.