AnAge entry for Suncus etruscus

Classification (HAGRID: 03234)

Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia
    Phylum: Chordata
        Class: Mammalia (Taxon entry)
            Order: Soricomorpha
                Family: Soricidae
                    Genus: Suncus
Species
Suncus etruscus
Common name
White-toothed pygmy shrew

Lifespan, ageing, and relevant traits

Maximum longevity
3.2 years (captivity)
Source
ref. 671
Sample size
Small
Data quality
Questionable
Observations

These are one of the smallest living mammals, if not the smallest. Longevity has not been studied in detail in captivity due to difficulties in keeping these animals in captivity. One captive specimen lived 3.2 years, though [0671]. Maximum longevity may still be considerably underestimated.

Life history traits (averages)

Female sexual maturity
365 days
Male sexual maturity
365 days
Gestation
27 days
Weaning
20 days
Litter size
4 (viviparous)
Litters per year
3.4
Inter-litter interval
Weight at birth
0.19 g
Weight at weaning
2.065 g
Adult weight
2.1 g
Postnatal growth rate
0.174 days-1 (from Gompertz function)
Maximum longevity residual
58%

Metabolism

Typical body temperature
309ºK or 36.0ºC or 96.8ºF
Basal metabolic rate
0.0630 W
Body mass
2.4 g
Metabolic rate per body mass
0.026250 W/g

References

External Resources

Integrated Taxonomic Information System
ITIS 633726
Animal Diversity Web
ADW account (if available)
Encyclopaedia of Life
Search EOL
NCBI Taxonomy
Taxonomy ID 109475
Entrez
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Ageing Literature
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Images
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Internet
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