A new southern distribution limit for Sorex mirabilis Ognev, 1937 (Eulipotyphla, Soricidae)

Abstract

Sorex mirabilis, a small insectivorous mammal, is a very rare, poorly known species distributed at high latitudes and altitudes of northeastern Asia. The occurrence of this species in the Republic of Korea was known from late 1990s. We found a new specimen from a location of a 50′ lower latitude and 400 m lower altitude than the previously known locations of the first record in the Republic of Korea. This finding may imply that S. mirabilis is distributed in a wider range than previously considered and that their distribution might be related to eoreumgols, or ice valleys, where there are potential insular refugia due to micro-meteorological characteristics.

Keywords

• eoreumgol
• ice valley
• Ussuri shrew