Characteristics
Family: Soricidae
Spanish: Musaraña canaria
French:
English: Canary shrew
Canary shrew
Crocidura canariensis (Hutterer, López-Jurado & Vogel 1987)
Shrew endemic to the eastern Canary Islands (Fuerteventura, Lanzarote and its islets) of medium size and greyish fur, sometimes with a reddish sheen. Insufficiently known distribution, it could be conditioned by the presence of introduced mammals and the use of pesticides. In Lanzarote it is recorded in very varied habitats, but it seems to have disappeared from some agricultural areas. It possibly reaches its highest densities on the islet of Montaña Clara, where there are no introduced mammals. It is considered extinct in Alegranza and La Graciosa. In Fuerteventura it has only been found in inhospitable places such as badlands and peaks practically devoid of vegetation. Its diet seems to be based on insects, especially larvae. It preys on the Atlantic lizard (Gallotia atlantica), also endemic, aided by a toxin in its saliva that paralyzes the prey. Related to C.tarfayensis from North Africa, and C.sicula, endemic to Sicily.
Temporal evolution of the number of captures of
Stations where the species was found (4)
Captures by station
| Station | City | Elevation | Captures |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Casa (Islote de Montaña Clara) | Teguise | 11 | 40 |
| Islote Mar de Lavas Tenésara | Tinajo | 61 | 13 |
| Jameos MalpaÃs Corona | Haría | 130 | 30 |
| MalpaÃs Grande | Tuineje | 110 | 3 |
| Total captures | 86 |
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