Lamulate shrew

Chodsigoa lamula was first described by Oldfield Thomas in 1912, based on a specimen collected the year before by G. Fenwick Owen. The type locality was "40 miles south-east of Tao-chou" in Gansu, China, at an altitude of 9,500 feet (2,900 m).^[2] Later analysis by Allen (1938) considered it a subspecies of Chodsigoa hypsibia. It remained that way until Hoffman (1985) reclassified it yet again as a full species based on its smaller size and overlapping distribution with C. hypsibia. In the same work, he reanalyzed C. parva as a subspecies of C. lamula, though some later authors disagreed with this.^[1][3][4] A 2017 genetic analysis, which looked at one specimen of C. lamula, found that C. lamula was genetically similar to C. hypsibia, and concluded that they may be the same species.^[5]

The lamulate shrew is very similar to Chodsigoa hypsibia, but is distinguished by its smaller size and flatter cranium.^[6][5] The fur is short and soft, with the back hairs about 3.5 millimetres (0.14 in) in length. It is mouse-grey and slightly paler on the bottom than top, with white hands and feed. The tail is greyish above and glossy whiteish below.^[2]

The type specimen measured 67 millimetres (2.6 in) in head and body length, with a 54 millimetres (2.1 in) tail and 13 millimetres (0.51 in) hind feet. The tail is shorter than other species in the genus.^[2]

The lamulate shrew is found in central southern China and inhabits high elevation montane forests, at approximately 3,000 metres (9,800 ft).^[6] A 2023 field survey in the forests of Mt. Liangshan, Sinchuan Province, recorded lamulate shrews only in secondary forests.^[7]

It is listed as a species of Least Concern by the IUCN due to its presumed wide range and large population, though little is known for certain about the population and distribution.^[1]