Post-Pleistocene evolution of Bornean shrews Crocidura foetida (Mammalia, Soricidae)

Earl Of Cranbrook, Philip J. Piper

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Fossil mandibles of the Bornean shrew Crocidura foetida recovered from excavations at the west mouth of Niah cave, Sarawak, Malaysia, show that the late Pleistocene population at this lowland location was comparable in size with the large subspecies Crocidura foetida doriae, presently occurring at inland, upland locations. Two Holocene specimens fall in the size range of the smaller lowland subspecies C. f. foetida. Comparable post-Pleistocene size-reduction is known among other mammals of Borneo, but this is the first instance of dated examples. The evolutionary trend conforms with Bergmann's 'rule' but, other than climate change, no selective agent is apparent.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)413-419
Number of pages7
JournalBiological Journal of the Linnean Society
Volume94
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2008
Externally publishedYes

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