AQUATIC MAMMALS 



there are no external ears. Although partly webbed the forefeet are 

 small, while the hind feet are enlarged, webbed to the base of the nails, 

 and heavily fringed by bristly hairs along the outer border. The tail 

 is robust and laterally compressed. This genus is more modified for 

 an aquatic life than any of the Soricidae. 



Gaiemys occurs in parts of Spain and adjoining France. It is similar 

 to Desmana but smaller, snout somewhat longer, tail longer and later- 

 ally compressed only near the tip, but its hairs form a faintly defined 

 ventral keel. It is not quite so highly modified aquatically as the des- 

 man. 



Soricidae 



Neosorex and Atophyrax are two groups of water shrews inhabiting 

 parts of the United States and Canada. Jackson (1928) has recently 

 placed them with the genus Sorex but they have usually been accorded 

 generic (or subgeneric) rank and may be so treated here for convenience. 

 Their habitat is along the borders of little streams and in bogs and 

 marshes, where they secure water insects and small fish. Appreciable 

 modifications for an aquatic life consist only of short fringes of stiffened 

 hairs upon the sides of the hind feet and toes, and slight pronation of 

 these members. 



Neomys — the European water shrew, is found in Europe and Euro- 

 pean Russia. Its aquatic modifications also consist of fringes to the 

 hind feet and toes, but in addition one species (N. foidens) has a 

 median keel of stiffened hairs extending the entire length of the under 

 surface of the tail. 



Chimarrogale of the Himalayas and parts of China and Japan has the 

 hind feet and toes fringed and the hands slightly so, while the tail has 

 a well marked inferior fringe. 



Crossogale of the Malay Archipelago is said to be essentially like 

 Chimarrogale. 



Nectogale of Tibet and adjacent China is more specialized. In gen- 

 eral it too resembles Chimarrogale but there are said to be no external 

 ears, the hind feet are webbed in addition to having slight fringes, and 

 the tail is fringed below. 



Tenrecidae 



Limnogale of Madagascar has a decidedly flattened muzzle and 

 webbed feet. The whole tail is very powerful but only the distal part 

 is laterally compressed. Presumably both hind feet and tail are used 

 in swimming but probably the latter is the chief organ of propulsion. 



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