New Distribution Record of Himalayan Water Shrew Chimarrogale himalayica (Gray, 1842) Soricomorpha: Soricidae and its Attempt to Feed on a Cascade Frog Amolops sp. from Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya, India.

Abstract

The Himalayan water shrew, Chimarrogale himalayica, is widely distributed in South and East Asia. However, their distribution and ecology are not properly understood due to the elusive foraging techniques like hiding underwater in streams of riparian evergreen forests. The restricted habitat and food requirement of the species makes it challenging to study. Habitat loss due to anthropogenic pressure is the major concern as the species is more prone to habitat disturbances. The old records are sparse and are sporadically reported in surveys from specific locations worldwide forming its current distribution range. Although the species has a scattered distribution in India, we report the first video graphic evidence of Chimarrogale himalayica's semi-aquatic foraging behavior while attempting to feed on a cascade frog Amolops sp. in a stream. Our finding remains unique and adds information on the extended distribution range of the species from our new record in Jaintia hills, Meghalaya, and helps further understand the shrews’ feeding behavior.