mammal survey serra da estrela portugal - De Zoogdiervereniging

4.3 RECORDED MOUSE SPECIESSpanish shrew (Sorex granarius)Two specimens of Spanish shrew were caught in the open area with herbaceous vegetation near Senhora doDesterro. One of the animals was taken to the camp to be photographed and filmed and releasedafterwards it in it’s natural habitat.Miller's water shrew (Neomys anomalus)Miller's Water Shrew was caught 7 times in traps along the Ribeiro das Tapadas northeast of Loriga.Unfortunately, two animals were found dead in a trap. During the last check on August 1 st , three specimenswere caught.Greater and Lesser white-toothed toothed shrew (Crocidura russula / suaveolens)On 12 occasions a Greater or Lesser white-toothed shrew was recorded. One animal was found dead in atrap. As usual, it was often difficult to distinguish between the two species. In theory and as the namessuggest, the Lesser white-toothed shrew is smaller than the Greater white-toothed shrew, but there are noother clear field characteristics. Possibly the difference between the species can be established with fullygrown animals, but with juveniles it is virtually impossible.On two occasions, a capture of a Greater whitetoothedshrew was recorded. Both these animalswere captured on July 31 st , one at Ribeiro dasTapadas and one at Covão. The animals werebrought to the camp in order to take a closerlook and to discuss the characteristics relevant toidentification. A captured Lesser white-toothedshrew was recorded twice as well. Both werecaptured on July 29 th , one at Ribeiro dasTapadas and one at Ribeira da Nave. Theseanimals were also taken to the camp to beexamined by several people. If the identificationsare correct, these results mean that the Greaterand the Lesser white-toothed shrew both occurin Serra da Estrela. More information on thepresence of the two species can be gained fromanalysis of owl pellets. Measurements on theskulls can provide characteristics that moreclearly point to either one of the species.Greater white-toothed shrew or Lesser white-toothed shrew…?Photo: Walter HeijderWood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus)The Wood mouse was, as usual, by far the most commonly captured species during the summer camp andmore than half of the total number of captures concerned Wood mice. Wood mice were caught 31 times,but the observations were limited to only 3 locations: Ribeiro das Tapadas (21), Covão do Boeiro (3) andSenhora do Desterro (7). In the traps placed at high altitudes the Wood mouse was the only species caught.Yellow-necked wood mice do not occur in the Serra da Estrela, therefore no identification difficulties wereencountered.Algerian mouse (Mus spretus)A total of six specimens of Algerian mouse were captured: 4 along the Ribeiro das Tapadas and 2 in theopen field near Senhora do Desterro. Algerian mice are generally very easy to catch. One Algerian mousewas found dead in a trap.Other capturesOn two separate occasions, a Schreiber’s green lizard (Lacerta schreiberi) was caught in a trap and once anIberian wall lizard (Podarcis hispanica) at Covão do Boeiro. Also, numerous slugs were found in the taps, butthese captures were not always recorded. On five occasions, a closed trap was found with no animal inside.26 Dutch Mammal Society