Mduma's shrew
species of mammal
Mduma's shrew (Crocidura mdumai) is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is endemic to Tanzania.
Etymology
It is named after Tanzanian conservationist Simon Mduma, in honor of his efforts in studying the Serengeti ecosystem.
Distribution and habitat
It is restricted to Tanzania, where it is only found in the forests of the Ngorongoro Crater. Its habitat includes montane forests on the edge of the Ngorongoro caldera and drier forests on the southeastern slope.
Description
The holotype had a length from head to rump of 81 mm and a tail of 59 mm. It has dark brown fur on the back and dark gray on the belly.
Status
This species is considered endangered due to habitat loss from deforestation due to smallholder farming in the Ngorongoro crater.
This brief starts where responsible research should: with the source description of “Mduma's shrew” as species of mammal. Everything that follows is an evidence route, not borrowed authority.
Why this record matters
The subject matters to the science & nature register because the source frames it as species of mammal. Its deeper value depends on whether names, dates, institutions and citations support that framing.
The date and method of observation matter as much as the stated conclusion, especially where classification or consensus has changed. The source revision retrieved here is dated Jan 4, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q27902019. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference.
Current terminology should not be projected backward without checking the classification used when the underlying evidence was created. The lead is largely declarative, so disagreement and counter-evidence require a deliberate search beyond the opening account. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Check terminology, classification and the date of the cited evidence. Scientific names and technical consensus can change while older records retain historical value.
- Current terminology
- Classification context
- Finding cited technical literature
Primary datasets, specimen catalogues, standards bodies and the most recent peer-reviewed literature.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Mduma's shrew”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Mduma's shrew primary sources, Mduma's shrew archive and Mduma's research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Mduma's shrew”?
- Is the terminology current, historical or disputed?
- Which observation, specimen, dataset or publication supports the account?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Mduma's shrew” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.