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Hero shrewFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hero shrew[1]
Temporal range: Recent
Conservation status
Least Concern(IUCN 3.1)[2]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Soricomorpha
Family: Soricidae
Subfamily: Crocidurinae
Genus: Scutisorex
Species: S. somereni
Binomial name
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Scutisorex somereni
(Thomas, 1910)
Armored shrew range
The hero shrew (Scutisorex somereni), also known as the armored shrew, is a largeshrewnative
toAfrica, which has a highly unusualspinal column. Its corrugated interlockingvertebraeare unique
amongmammalsexcept for itssister species, theThor's hero shrew.[3]
Contents
[hide]
1 Adaptations
o 1.1 Adaptive significance
2 References
3 External links
Adaptations[edit]
Specimen and partial skeleton showing enlarged backbone at theUniversity of
ZurichZoological Museum
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oldfield_Thomashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oldfield_Thomashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oldfield_Thomashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrewhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrewhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrewhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spinal_columnhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spinal_columnhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spinal_columnhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vertebraehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vertebraehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vertebraehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mammalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mammalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mammalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sister_grouphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sister_grouphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thor%27s_hero_shrewhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thor%27s_hero_shrewhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew#cite_note-3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew#cite_note-3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew#cite_note-3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrewhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrewhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrewhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew#Adaptationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew#Adaptationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew#Adaptive_significancehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew#Adaptive_significancehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew#Referenceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew#Referenceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew#External_linkshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew#External_linkshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew?veaction=edit&vesection=1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew?veaction=edit&vesection=1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew?veaction=edit&vesection=1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Zurichhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Zurichhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Zurichhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Zurichhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Scutisorex_somereni_Skelett.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Scutisorex_somereni_Skelett.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Armored_Shrew_area.pnghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Scutisorex_somereni_Skelett.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Scutisorex_somereni_Skelett.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Armored_Shrew_area.pnghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Scutisorex_somereni_Skelett.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Scutisorex_somereni_Skelett.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Armored_Shrew_area.pnghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Zurichhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Zurichhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew?veaction=edit&vesection=1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew#External_linkshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew#Referenceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew#Adaptive_significancehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew#Adaptationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrewhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew#cite_note-3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thor%27s_hero_shrewhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sister_grouphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mammalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vertebraehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spinal_columnhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrewhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oldfield_Thomas7/27/2019 Hero Shrew
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While humans have 5lumbar vertebrae, the hero shrew possesses 11, which have interlocking
spines on their sides and lower surfaces. These spines mesh with the projections on the vertebrae
behind and in front, creating a strong, yet flexible structure. The spine is so elaborate that it accounts
for 4% of the shrew's body weight. In other small mammals the spine only accounts for 0.51.6% of
the overall mass. The modifications to this small animal's body are not limited to the spine. The ribs
are much thicker than those of similarly sized mammals and the spinal muscles have undergone
some radical changes. The transversemusclesare reduced, while the muscles that extend and flex
the spine are well developed, which results in the shrew's peculiar gait with the spine flexing in a
snake-like manner. The hero shrew feeds oninsects,snails, worms and smalllizards.
The hero shrew's unique anatomy allows it to bear the weight of a 160 lb (73 kg)humanwithout
harm,[4]
and this incredible resistance leads to the shrew being used as atalismanby the
localMangbetu peopleof theCongo, believing that wearing part of the shrew will
provideinvincibility.[5]
Adaptive significance[edit]
Various hypotheses exist to explain the unusual skeleton of the hero shrew. It may simply be that the
robust spine and associated posture keeps the animals body clear of wet ground in swampy
habitats, or that the trait evolved as the consequence of some unrelated adaptive factor, as in
thespandrels of St Marcohypothesis.[5]
Alternatively, Scutisorexmay use their exceptional spines to lever logs or dead palm leaves, granting
access to the invertebrate prey such asearthworms(Oligochaeta). Though the behaviour has not
been directly observed, when local people are collecting beetle larvae in a similar fashion, they often
encounter the shrews.[5]
References[edit]
1. ^Hutterer, R. (2005)."Order Soricomorpha". In Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D.
M.Mammal Species of the World(3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press.
p. 257.ISBN978-0-8018-8221-0.OCLC62265494.
2. ^Kerbis Peterhans, J. (2008).Scutisorex somereni. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List
of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2.
3. ^Piper, Ross(2007), Extraordinary Animals: An Encyclopedia of Curious and
Unusual Animals,Greenwood PressISBN 0313339228.
4. ^Allen, JA.[clarification needed]
(1917). "The skeletal characters ofScutisorex
somereni". Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History28: 769784.
5. ^abcStanley, W. T.; Robbins, L. W.; Malekani, J. M.; Mbalitini, S. G.; Migurimu, D.
A.; Mukinzi, J. C.; Hulselmans, J.; Prevot, V. et al. (2013). "A new hero emerges:
Another exceptional mammalian spine and its potential adaptive
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lumbar_vertebraehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lumbar_vertebraehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lumbar_vertebraehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musclehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musclehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musclehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insecthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insecthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insecthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snailhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snailhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snailhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lizardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lizardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lizardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew#cite_note-4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew#cite_note-4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew#cite_note-4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talismanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talismanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talismanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mangbetu_peoplehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mangbetu_peoplehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mangbetu_peoplehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Republic_of_Congohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Republic_of_Congohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Republic_of_Congohttp://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/invincibilityhttp://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/invincibilityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew#cite_note-stanley-5http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew#cite_note-stanley-5http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew#cite_note-stanley-5http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew?veaction=edit&vesection=2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew?veaction=edit&vesection=2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew?veaction=edit&vesection=2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spandrel_(biology)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spandrel_(biology)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spandrel_(biology)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew#cite_note-stanley-5http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew#cite_note-stanley-5http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew#cite_note-stanley-5http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthwormshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthwormshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthwormshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew#cite_note-stanley-5http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew#cite_note-stanley-5http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew#cite_note-stanley-5http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew?veaction=edit&vesection=3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew?veaction=edit&vesection=3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew?veaction=edit&vesection=3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew#cite_ref-msw3_1-0http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew#cite_ref-msw3_1-0http://www.bucknell.edu/msw3/browse.asp?id=13700263http://www.bucknell.edu/msw3/browse.asp?id=13700263http://www.bucknell.edu/msw3/browse.asp?id=13700263http://www.google.com/books?id=JgAMbNSt8ikC&pg=PA257http://www.google.com/books?id=JgAMbNSt8ikC&pg=PA257http://www.google.com/books?id=JgAMbNSt8ikC&pg=PA257http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Standard_Book_Numberhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Standard_Book_Numberhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-8018-8221-0http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-8018-8221-0http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-8018-8221-0http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OCLChttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OCLChttp://www.worldcat.org/oclc/62265494http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/62265494http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/62265494http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew#cite_ref-iucn_2-0http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew#cite_ref-iucn_2-0http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/41449/0http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/41449/0http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/41449/0http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew#cite_ref-3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ross_Piperhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ross_Piperhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ross_Piperhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenwood_Press_(publisher)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenwood_Press_(publisher)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0313339228http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0313339228http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0313339228http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew#cite_ref-4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew#cite_ref-4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Please_clarifyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Please_clarifyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Please_clarifyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew#cite_ref-stanley_5-0http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew#cite_ref-stanley_5-0http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew#cite_ref-stanley_5-1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew#cite_ref-stanley_5-1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew#cite_ref-stanley_5-2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew#cite_ref-stanley_5-2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew#cite_ref-stanley_5-2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew#cite_ref-stanley_5-2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew#cite_ref-stanley_5-1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew#cite_ref-stanley_5-0http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Please_clarifyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew#cite_ref-4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0313339228http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenwood_Press_(publisher)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ross_Piperhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew#cite_ref-3http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/41449/0http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew#cite_ref-iucn_2-0http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/62265494http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OCLChttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-8018-8221-0http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Standard_Book_Numberhttp://www.google.com/books?id=JgAMbNSt8ikC&pg=PA257http://www.bucknell.edu/msw3/browse.asp?id=13700263http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew#cite_ref-msw3_1-0http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew?veaction=edit&vesection=3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew#cite_note-stanley-5http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthwormshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew#cite_note-stanley-5http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spandrel_(biology)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew?veaction=edit&vesection=2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew#cite_note-stanley-5http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/invincibilityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Republic_of_Congohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mangbetu_peoplehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talismanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew#cite_note-4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lizardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snailhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insecthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musclehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lumbar_vertebrae7/27/2019 Hero Shrew
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significance". Biology Letters9 (5):
20130486.doi:10.1098/rsbl.2013.0486 .PMID23883579.edit
External links[edit]
Fun Zone: The Mammal Society - Mammal record breakers - What a backbone![dead link]
Scutisorex somereniarmored shrew (also: hero shrew)
The Lord Geekington: The Hero Shrew!Cameron McCormick, December 29, 2007
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_object_identifierhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_object_identifierhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1098%2Frsbl.2013.0486http://dx.doi.org/10.1098%2Frsbl.2013.0486http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PubMed_Identifierhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PubMed_Identifierhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23883579http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23883579http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23883579http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Template:Cite_doi/10.1098.2Frsbl.2013.0486&action=edit&editintro=Template:Cite_doi/editintro2http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Template:Cite_doi/10.1098.2Frsbl.2013.0486&action=edit&editintro=Template:Cite_doi/editintro2http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Template:Cite_doi/10.1098.2Frsbl.2013.0486&action=edit&editintro=Template:Cite_doi/editintro2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew?veaction=edit&vesection=4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew?veaction=edit&vesection=4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew?veaction=edit&vesection=4http://web.archive.org/web/20041018145519/http:/www.abdn.ac.uk/mammal/hero.shtmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rothttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rothttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rothttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rothttp://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Scutisorex_somereni.htmlhttp://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Scutisorex_somereni.htmlhttp://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Scutisorex_somereni.htmlhttp://cameronmccormick.blogspot.com/2007/12/hero-shrew.htmlhttp://cameronmccormick.blogspot.com/2007/12/hero-shrew.htmlhttp://cameronmccormick.blogspot.com/2007/12/hero-shrew.htmlhttp://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Scutisorex_somereni.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rothttp://web.archive.org/web/20041018145519/http:/www.abdn.ac.uk/mammal/hero.shtmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_shrew?veaction=edit&vesection=4http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Template:Cite_doi/10.1098.2Frsbl.2013.0486&action=edit&editintro=Template:Cite_doi/editintro2http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23883579http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PubMed_Identifierhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1098%2Frsbl.2013.0486http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_object_identifierRecommended