December 23, 2014

Google Logo Add Us On GoogleAdd SciAm

Holiday Species Snapshot: Christmas Island Shrew

Many species don’t have anything to be thankful for this holiday season. Here’s one that may have already been lost. Species name: The Christmas Island shrew (Crocidura trichura) Where found: This miniscule mammal only exists—if it still exists at all—on Australia’s Christmas Island, a tiny dot in the Indian Ocean that is also home to [...]

By John R. Platt

Join Our Community of Science Lovers!

This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American

Many species don't have anything to be thankful for this holiday season. Here's one that may have already been lost.

Species name: The Christmas Island shrew (Crocidura trichura)

Where found: This miniscule mammal only exists—if it still exists at all—on Australia's Christmas Island, a tiny dot in the Indian Ocean that is also home to a number of other unique species, most notably the Christmas Island red crab (Gecarcoidea natalis), which famously swarms over the local beaches every year.

On supporting science journalism

If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.

IUCN Red List status:Critically endangered (possibly extinct). The shrews have not been seen since at least the 1980s.

Major threat: No one is sure exactly why the Christmas Island shrew disappeared. It could be tied to the arrival of the yellow crazy ant (Anoplolepis gracilipes), which also threatens the red crabs and has been linked to the recent extinction of the Christmas Island pipistrelle bat (Pipistrellus murrayi). Other factors that may have influenced the species' decline include habitat loss, other invasive species such as rats and cats, and road traffic. (Unfortunately the shrews were not recognized as a separate species until 2005, which may have delayed conservation efforts.)

Notable conservation programs: None, unfortunately. There's an official species recovery plan in place, though, just in case the shrews ever show up again. Sadly, that seems like it would require a Christmas miracle.

Photo: A 2011 stamp depicting the Christmas Island shrew, via the Universal Postal Union

John R. Platt is the editor of The Revelator. An award-winning environmental journalist, his work has appeared in Scientific American, Audubon, Motherboard, and numerous other magazines and publications. His "Extinction Countdown" column has run continuously since 2004 and has covered news and science related to more than 1,000 endangered species. John lives on the outskirts of Portland, Ore., where he finds himself surrounded by animals and cartoonists.

More by John R. Platt

It’s Time to Stand Up for Science

If you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in that two-century history.

I’ve been a Scientific American subscriber since I was 12 years old, and it helped shape the way I look at the world. SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe. I hope it does that for you, too.

If you subscribe to Scientific American, you help ensure that our coverage is centered on meaningful research and discovery; that we have the resources to report on the decisions that threaten labs across the U.S.; and that we support both budding and working scientists at a time when the value of science itself too often goes unrecognized.

In return, you get essential news, captivating podcasts, brilliant infographics, can't-miss newsletters, must-watch videos, challenging games, and the science world's best writing and reporting. You can even gift someone a subscription.

There has never been a more important time for us to stand up and show why science matters. I hope you’ll support us in that mission.

Thank you,

David M. Ewalt, Editor in Chief, Scientific American

Subscribe