Taxonomy and Distribution of Some American Shrews

Sorex emarginatus previously was known only from Plateado and the type locality, Bolanos, Jalisco. Comparison of these three specimens with specimens of other species of Mexican shrews of the S. saussurei group leads me to conclude that the group contains two species rather than four as was previously thought. Sorex emarginatus, S. ventralis, and S. oreopolus seem to me to be conspecific. All three nominal species are relatively small, short-tailed shrews. The skulls of the three kinds resemble one another in relatively short rostrum and in dental details. Slight differences in cranial proportions differentiate the three and they should, until more specimens of each are obtained and studied, retain subspecific rank.