mammal survey serra da estrela portugal - De Zoogdiervereniging

5.3 RECORDED SMALL MAMMAL SPECIESSpanish shrew (Sorex (granarius)Skull remains of this shrew were found in one out of the five pellet collections. In total 2 (0.4%) specimenscould be identified.Greater white toothed shrew (Crocidura russula)Skull remains of this shrew could be established in 98 (20.9 %) cases out of the five pellet collections.Determinations were based on the height of the processus coronoidius (see graph) together with othercharacteristics as the outward curved processus zygomaticus and the relative small M 3 .Lesser white toothed shrew (Crocidura suaveolens)In only small numbers this shrew could be recognised: 5 (=1.1 %) in the five collections contained thisspecies. In 4 specimens the height of the processus coronoideus was small (see graph) and in 1 specimenalso the processus zygomaticus was clearly bended inwards.Greater and Lesser white toothed shrew (Crocidura russula / suaveolens)In 39 specimens (= 8,3%) it was not possible to make an alignment into the proper species Crocidurarussula or Crocidura suaveolens.Number20181614121086420LeftRight4,0 4,1 4,2 4,3 4,4 4,5 4,6 4,7 4,8 4,9 5,0Height (mm)Graph: Height of the processus coronoidius in Crocidura spec. from pellet collection 4 (Vinho).Iberian mole (Talpa occidentalis)Talpa occidentalis is almost the only Talpida species (except the aquatic Galemys pyrenaicus) below thePyrenees and the Cantabric mountain ridges. Only in the pellets of the tawny owl 2 (= 0.4 %) of these moleswere present. The absence in barn owl pellets of this species presumably is due to another hunting strategy.Geoffroy’s bat (Myotis emarginatus)As a surprise bat species fragments were discovered in the pellets of a tawny owl. The battered fragmentsrevealed only 2 mandibles, left and right, both had a length of 11.2 mm and most probably of the samespecimen. The dental formula of this mandibula is (for both): 3-1-3-3. This formula excludes most of theEuropean genera, only Myotis can be included. Of this genus only Myotis nattereri and Myotis emarginatusmeet the criteria of the mandibular length. A closer look at the outline of the processus coronoidius reveals arelative low height, that is compatible with Myotis emarginatus and make Myotis nattereri not likely. This onespecimen contributed just 0.2 % of the prey items of the owls.Mammal survey Serra da Estrela - Portugal 2009 29