Formation and Diachronic Changes of Placental Scars in the House Shrew (Suncus murinus)

In the present study, diachronic changes in fresh and stained placental scars of postpartum house shrews (Suncus murinus) were studied and compared with the actual number of offspring. In non- stained fresh uteri, the placental scars were barely visible externally, except in some exceptional cases. In stained uteri, placental scars were observed in all specimens, even in the oldest animals evaluated (12 months postpartum). The study estimated the number of offspring and time of parturition using the degree of staining in the scars and the change in their forms. As the time postpartum increased, the stained placental scars became discoloured and shrank, making it difficult to distinguish between the scars from normal parturition and those that formed following halted development after implantation. Placental scars provided an invaluable method for estimating the female reproductive state in wild mammals. In captive house shrews, however, placental scars were barely detected in non- stained fresh uteri. Moreover, placental scars were observed in older animals at 12 months postpartum. It can be concluded that, it is not feasible to estimate the number of offspring or time of parturition based on placental scars in wild shrews, which are believed to undergo multiple parturitions a year.

Morphometry of Asian House Shrew (Suncus murinus) in Jahangirnagar University Campus

A study was conducted on morphometry of Asian House Shrew, Suncus murinus at Jahangirnagar University campus, Savar, Dhaka from December, 2010 to November, 2011. A total of 85 shrews (55 males and 30 females) were studied for morphometric analysis. The body length of shrews varied from 13cm to 18 cm (mean 15.36, sd±1.17). Males were significantly differed from females in size which made them sexually dimorphic (t = 10.02, df = 83, p< 0.005). The body length of males ranged from 14.5 cm to 18 cm (mean = 16, sd±0.82) and in females it ranged from 13 cm to 15.5 cm (mean = 14.19, sd±0.74). The body weight of shrews varied from 45 gm to 138 gm (mean = 85.52, sd±25.6). The weight of males ranged from 65 gm to 138 gm (mean = 99.6, sd±20.03) whereas the body weight of females ranged from 45 gm to 82 gm (mean = 59.73, sd±10.54). Body length was positively correlated to the body weight (r = 0.917) as well as tail length (r = 0.673) and limbs length (forelimb length, r = 0.875 and hindlimb length, r = 0.971) and found to be significant at 1% level of significance.Bangladesh J. Zool. 43(2): 313-319, 2015