Revision of the Shrews of the American Genera Blarina and Notiosorex

Nomenclatural notes and identification of small-eared shrews (Mammalia: genus Cryptotis) from Cobán, Guatemala, in The Natural History Museum, London

“…15.3 (skin). This specimen is identifiable as Cryptotis merriami , indicating that Corsira tropicalis is a synonym of that species rather than Cryptotis tropicalis (Merriam 1895), as had long been assumed.…”

“…The fate of those two specimens is unknown, and it is likely that they no longer exist. In making his selection of a lectotype, Choate chose a specimen that was likely part of the type series for S. micrurus, but one that was not even mentioned by Merriam (1895) in his description of Blarina tropicalis. Despite this latter fact, Choate's decision was the most appropriate move for stabilizing the name and for preserving the identity of the species as conceived by Tomes, Alston, and Merriam.…”

“…These were collected in the mid-to late-nineteenth century in what is now Alta Verapaz Department, Guatemala, mostly in the vicinity of Cobá n. As is true of many older specimens, the identifications attached to these individuals have been revised through time. Subsets of these specimens have been interpreted as parts of type series for three separate species and were used to characterize these species by subsequent researchers: Corsira tropicalis Gray (1843), a nomen nudum; Sorex micrurus Tomes (1862), a secondary homonym rejected prior to 1960; and Blarina tropicalis Merriam (1895), now recognized as a species of Cryptotis. In the last comprehensive work to review this series of specimens, mentioned only seven individuals, all of which he referred to the single subspecies, Cryptotis parva tropicalis.…”

Diversity of Wild Mammals in a Megalopolis: Mexico City, Mexico

“…From the Iztapalapa region we haveTadarida brasiliensis, Molossus ater (Herrera, 1895) and Myotis velifer and two from Valley of Mexico (in USNM and MCZ respectely; Miller & Allen, 1928), all bat specimens are kept in alcohol. The analysis of the data-base generated shows that 1892 was the year with the highest number of new records from The Distrito Federal, with a total number of 25, some of which are: one marsupial Didelphis virginiana, two rabbits, Sylvilagus cunicularius and S. floridanus, two shrews,Cryptotis parva (50762 USMN *Blarina soricina, Merriam, 1895) and C. alticola; one bat Tadarida brasiliensis and two carnivores, Spilogale putorius (50825 USMN, *Spilogale a. angustifrons, Howell, 1902). After a period of 51 years in which only two more species appear, in 1943 there are again new records of species with a slow but constant increase, with a maximum number of 6 species in one year.…”

A Multivariate Analysis of Systematic Relationships among Populations of the Short-Tailed Shrew (Genus Blarina) in Nebraska

“…This arrangement stems primarily from Merriam's (1895) revision of Blarina and Bole and Moulthrop's ( 1942) later synopsis of the genus. As presently understood, the ranges of four nominal subspecies-B.…”