九州産カワネズミについて〔英文〕

概要

論文の詳細を見る
All the specimens of the Japanese water shrew, <I>Chimarrogale himalayica platycephala</I>, from Kyushu used in this study were obtained at the sides along clear streams less than 5 m in width in mountain districts, and its population size indicated an apparent decline. The body weight, external and cranial measurements of our 11 specimens (6 males and 5 females) and 4 individuals by YOSHIDA (1968) from Kyushu were compared with 43 individuals by FUZIWARA (1958), IMAIZUMI (1960) and ABE (1967) from Honshu. The female was smaller than the male and both sexes in Kyushu showed a tendency to be smaller than those in Honshu. Furthermore, as the result of a comparison of the size among the individuals from Honshu and Kyushu, those from Nepal by ABE (1971), and those from Fukien and Taiwan (including our 1 male) by JONES & MUMFORD (1971), this species shows a trend to become gradually larger from south toward north. The phenomenon that the shrew in Kyushu is smaller than that in Honshu is considered to be a representation of this cline.