Crocidura pediculus Voet, Cornette & Nicolas 2026, sp. nov.

Crocidura pediculus Voet, Cornette & Nicolas, sp. nov. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: A8B3B3AF-5D6B-4EE7-A708-620BB961D19F Figs 6–7 Crocidura cf. grandiceps – Voet et al., 2022: figs 2–4, 6. Diagnosis (see Figs 6–7 and SM2 Figs 5–6) The Cytb DNA diagnosis for the taxon C. pediculus sp. nov. is: ‘A’ in the site 201, ‘G’ in the site 579, ‘T’ in the site 783. The new species is distinguished from other members of the West African C. poensis group by its small size and pelage coloration. It closely resembles C. grandiceps in having a dark brown dorsal pelage, a slate-brown belly, and a gradual transition between the two (Fig. 6). The tail is long, dark brown to black, and fully haired. However, C. pediculus sp. nov. is significantly smaller than C. grandiceps in both external measurements and skull/mandible dimensions (Fig. 7). Etymology The specific name is a noun in apposition, stemming from the Latin pediculus ‘little foot’. The species is generally smaller and has significantly smaller hindfeet compared to C. grandiceps (Latin: ‘large head’), under which name it has until now been exhibited in museum collections. Type material Holotype GUINEA • ♀ adult; Zogota; 7.944° N, 9.105° W; 2 Feb. 2012; V. Nicolas and A. Lalis leg.; lowland forest; GenBank nos. ON603722 (Cytb); MNHN, MNHN-ZM-2013-503. Paratypes GUINEA • 1 ♀ adult; Zogota; 7.944° N, 9.105° W. 30 Jan. 2012; V. Nicolas and A. Lalis leg.; lowland forest; GenBank nos: ON620437 (16S), PX633560 (complete mtDNA), PX054761 (ApoB), PX054815 (BDNF), PX054851 (GHR), PX054907 (MCGF); MNHN, MNHN-ZM-2013-501 • 1 ♂ adult; same locality as for holotype; 4 Feb. 2012; V. Nicolas and A. Lalis leg.; lowland forest; GenBank no.: ON603721 (Cytb); MNHN, MNHN-ZM-2013-504 • 1 ♂ adult; Franfina; 9.63° N, 8.94° W; Feb. 2004; C. Denys and E. Lecompte leg.; GenBank nos: MH806024 (Cytb), MH782818 (16S); MNHN, MNHNZM-2013-772 • 1 ♂ adult; Gbetlaya; 9.84° N, 11.04° W; May 2003; E. Fichet-Calvet leg.; GenBank no.: ON620407 (16S); MNHN, MNHN-ZM-2013-763 • 1 ♀; same data as for preceeding; GenBank nos: MH806017 (Cytb), MH782811 (16S); MNHN, MNHN-ZM-2013-764 • 1 ♂ adult; Hermakono; 9.036° N, 8.918° W; 680 m a.s.l.; 8 Aug. 2011; V. Nicolas and A. Lalis leg.; forest; GenBank nos: PX054599 (Cytb), PX633559 (complete mtDNA), PX054760 (ApoB), PX054794 (BRCA1), PX054814 (BDNF), PX054850 (GHR), PX054883 (HDAC2), PX054906 (MCGF), PX054937 (STAT5A), PX054961 (vWF); MNHN, MNHN-ZM-2013-453 • 1 ♀ adult; Hermakono; 9.036° N, 8.918° W; 680 m a.s.l.; 5 May 2011; V. Nicolas and A. Lalis leg.; forest; GenBank nos: MH806039 (Cytb), MH782832 (16S); MNHN, MNHN-ZM-2013-499 • 1 ♀ adult; Ziama forest, Kazaouma; 8.35° N, 9.217° W; 21 Sep. 2003; V. Nicolas and M. Colyn; fallow; GenBank nos: MH806032 (Cytb), MH782826 (16S); MNHN, MNHNZM-2020-1891 • 1 ♂ adult; Ziama forest, Malweta; 8.3° N, 9.233° W; 18 Aug. 2003; V. Nicolas and M. Colyn; anthropogenic forest; GenBank no.: ON620408 (16S); MNHN, MNHN-ZM-2020-1895 • 1 ♀ adult; Yerende; 10.04° N, 13.68° W; 14 Mar. 2005; C. Denys and A. Lalis leg.; GenBank nos: MH806027 (Cytb), MH782821 (16S); MNHN, MNHN-ZM-2013-781. Other material examined GUINEA • 1 ♂ adult; Franfina; 9.63° N, 8.94° W; Feb. 2004; C. Denys and E. Lecompte leg.; GenBank nos: MH806022 (Cytb), MH782816 (16S); MNHN, MNHN-ZM-2013-769 • 1 ♀ adult; same data as for preceeding; GenBank nos: MH806023 (Cytb), MH782817 (16S); MNHN, MNHN-ZM-2013-770 • 1 ♀ adult; same data as for preceeding; GenBank nos: ON603720 (Cytb), ON532738 (16S); MNHN, MNHN-ZM-2013-771 • 1 ♂ adult; Gbie; 7.640° N, 8.417° W; 406 m a.s.l.; Feb. 2008; C. Denys leg.; lowland forest; GenBank nos: JQ732363 (Cytb), JQ732590 (16S); MNHN, MNHN-ZM-2012-1077 • 1 ♀ adult; Gbie; 7.642° N, 8.337° W; 467 m a.s.l.; Oct. 2008; C. Denys leg.; lowland forest; GenBank nos: JQ732393 (Cytb), JQ732626 (16S); MNHN, MNHN-ZM-2012-1079 • 1 ♀ adult; Hermakono; 9.036° N, 8.918° W; 680 m a.s.l.; 7 Aug. 2011; V. Nicolas and A. Lalis leg.; forest; GenBank nos: PX054675 (Cytb), PX633558 (complete mtDNA), PX054759 (ApoB), PX054793 (BRCA1), PX054813 (BDNF), PX054849 (GHR), PX054882 (HDAC2), PX054905 (MCGF), PX054936 (STAT5A), PX054960 (vWF); MNHN, MNHN-ZM-2013-449 • 1 ♂ young adult; Ziama forest, Kazaouma; 8.35° N, 9.217° W; 27 Aug. 2003; V. Nicolas and M. Colyn; fallow; GenBank no.: PX054649 (Cytb); MNHN, MNHNZM- 2019-241 • 1 ♂ young adult; same locality as for preceeding; 19 Sep. 2003; V. Nicolas and M. Colyn; field; GenBank no.: PX057592 (16S); MNHN, MNHN-ZM-2024-997 • 1 ♂ subadult; same locality as for preceeding; 21 Sep. 2003; V. Nicolas and M. Colyn; fallow; GenBank nos: PX054733 (Cytb), MH782827 (16S); MNHN, MNHN-ZM-2024-998 • 1 ♀; same locality as for preceeding; 15 Oct. 2003; V. Nicolas and M. Colyn; fallow; GenBank nos: MH806034 (Cytb), MH782828 (16S); MNHN, MNHN-ZM-2024-999 • 1 ♂ adult; same locality as for preceeding; 21 Nov. 2003; V. Nicolas and M. Colyn; cornfield; GenBank nos: EF524681 (Cytb), EF524897 (16S); MNHN, MNHNZM-2024-1000 • 1 ♂ subadult; Ziama forest, Malweta; 8.3° N, 9.233° W; 28 Oct. 2003; V. Nicolas and M. Colyn; anthropogenic forest; GenBank nos: MH806035 (Cytb). MH782829 (16S); MNHN, MNHN-ZM-2024-1001 • 1 ♀ young adult; same locality as for preceeding; 12 Nov. 2003; V. Nicolas and M. Colyn; secondary forest; GenBank nos: MH806036 (Cytb). MH782830 (16S); MNHN, MNHNZM-2024-1002 • 1 ♀; Kediana; 11.82° N, 10.14° W; 14 Dec. 2011; C. Denys and A. Lalis leg.; GenBank nos: PX054703 (Cytb); MNHN, MNHN-ZM-2013-756 • 1 ♂; Yerende; 10.04° N, 13.68° W; 14 Mar. 2005; C. Denys and A. Lalis leg.; GenBank nos: PX054641 (Cytb), PX057594 (16S); MNHN, MNHNZM-2013-778 • 1 ♀; same data as for preceeding; GenBank nos: PX054704 (Cytb), PX057595 (16S); MNHN, MNHN-ZM-2013-779 • 1 ♂; same data as for preceeding; GenBank nos: MH806026 (Cytb), MH782820 (16S); MNHN, MNHN-ZM-2013-780 • 1 ♂; same data as for preceeding; GenBank nos: PX054642 (Cytb), PX057596 (16S); MNHN, MNHN-ZM-2013-782 • 1 ♀; same data as for preceeding; GenBank no.: PX057597 (16S); MNHN, MNHN-ZM-2013-783 • 1 ♂; same data as for preceeding; GenBank no.: PX057598 (16S); MNHN, MNHN-ZM-2013-784 • 1 ♀; same data as for preceeding; GenBank no.: PX057599 (16S); MNHN, MNHN-ZM-2013-786 • 1 ♀; same data as for preceeding; GenBank no.: PX054734 (Cytb), PX057593 (16S); MNHN, MNHN-ZM-2013-789 • 1 ♀; same data as for preceeding; GenBank nos: MH806028 (Cytb), MH782822 (16S); MNHN, MNHN-ZM-2013-790 • 1 ♂; same locality as for preceeding; 15 Mar. 2005; C. Denys and A. Lalis leg.; GenBank no.: PX057600 (16S); MNHN, MNHN-ZM-2013-787 • 1 ♂; same data as for preceeding; GenBank no.: PX057601 (16S); MNHN, MNHN-ZM-2013-788 • 1 ♀ adult; Zogota; 7.931° N, 9.125° W; 12 Jun. 2011; V. Nicolas and A. Lalis leg.; fallow; GenBank nos: PX054645 (Cytb), PX633555 (complete mtDNA), PX054756 (ApoB), PX054790 (BRCA1), PX054810 (BDNF), PX054846 (GHR), PX054879 (HDAC2), PX054902 (MCGF), PX054933 (STAT5A), PX054957 (vWF); MNHN, MNHN-ZM-2013-477. LIBERIA • 1 ♂ adult; Fape; 7.242° N, 9.305° W; 14 Jul. 2011; V. Nicolas and A. Lalis leg.; forest; GenBank nos: PX054698 (Cytb), PX633556 (complete mtDNA), PX054757 (ApoB), PX054791 (BRCA1), PX054811 (BDNF), PX054847 (GHR), PX054880 (HDAC2), PX054903 (MCGF), PX054934 (STAT5A), PX054958 (vWF); MNHN, MNHN-ZM-2013-438 • 1 ♀ adult; Fape; 7.230° N, 9.300° W; 16 Jul. 2011; V. Nicolas and A. Lalis leg.; fallow; GenBank nos: PX054598 (Cytb), PX633557 (complete mtDNA), PX054758 (ApoB), PX054792 (BRCA1), PX054812 (BDNF), PX054848 (GHR), PX054881 (HDAC2), PX054904 (MCGF), PX054935 (STAT5A), PX054959 (vWF); MNHN, MNHNZM-2013-439 • 1 ♀; Fape; 7.226° N, 9.292° W; 10 Jul. 2011; V. Nicolas and A. Lalis leg.; backwater; GenBank nos: MH806040 (Cytb), MH782833 (16S); MNHN, MNHN-ZM-2013-495. COTE D’IVOIRE • 1 ♂; Gbagroube; 5.85° N, 5.3° W; 12 Mar. 2005; S.; Kan Kouassi and B. Allali Kouadio leg.; GenBank no.: PX057568 (16S); MNHN, MNHN-ZM-2012-1474. Description (see Figs 6–7 and SM 2 Figs 5–6) Crocidura pediculus sp. nov. has a dark brown color, with a slightly lighter belly, shifting to a slate brown, greyer than the back (Fig. 6). The transition between the back and belly coloring is gradual, with no defined delimitation. The tail is dark brown, nearly black, covered by hairs along its entire length. Hands and feet are brown, the outside darker than the inside. Ears are large, covered in very short hairs and appearing bald. Even if in external coloring C. pediculus looks like C. grandiceps they are very different based on morphometry. Crocidura grandiceps appears to have longer and larger limbs, an elongated head, a longer, wider tail, thicker at the base, and more numerous and thicker darker head vibrissae.All external measurements are significantly smaller in C. pediculus (weight = 13.06 ± 2.81 g, body length = 92.02 ± 9.00 mm, tail length = 58.95 ± 8.58 mm, hindfoot length = 15.02 ± 1.01 mm, and ear length = 8.32 ± 1.72 mm) than in C. grandiceps (weight = 19.07 ± 5.30 g, body length = 101.35 ± 8.67 mm, tail length = 77.46 ± 11.24 mm, hindfoot length = 19.11 ± 2.78 mm and ear length = 10.72 ± 1.89 mm; SM 2 Fig. 6). These size differences between the two species are also apparent on the skull and the mandibles. Crocidura grandiceps has a more elongated rostrum and small braincase compared to Crocidura pediculus. Its palatine bone extends much further into the interorbital area. Based on external body measurements, Crocidura pediculus sp. nov. resembles C. cf. longipes. However, their pelage coloration is different, C. longipes having been originally described as a uniformly chocolate brown shrew with very long hindfeet and a sparsely haired tail. The skull of C. pediculus is more globular, while it is more elongated in C. cf. longipes. The dentition is weaker in C. cf. longipes and the angular process of the mandible is longer in C. pediculus. Crocidura pediculus sp. nov. differs significantly from C. buettikoferi in ear length, having smaller ears (8.32 ± 1.72 mm and 9.25 ± 1.81 mm, respectively). Morphometric analyses also r