American Pygmy Shrew, Sorex hoyi, Consumed by an Arctic Grayling, Thymallus arcticus

Authors

  • Thomas S. Jung Yukon Department of Environment, P.O. Box 2703, Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 2C6
  • Angela Milani Yukon Department of Environment, P.O. Box 2703, Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 2C6
  • Oliver E. Barker Yukon Department of Environment, P.O. Box 2703, Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 2C6
  • Nathan P. Millar Yukon Department of Environment, P.O. Box 2703, Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 2C6

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22621/cfn.v125i3.1230

Keywords:

Arctic Grayling, Thymallus arcticus, diet, American Pygmy Shrew, Sorex hoyi, Yukon

Abstract

Arctic Grayling, Thymallus arcticus, are rarely reported to consume small mammals. We report an American Pygmy Shrew, Sorex hoyi, consumed by an Arctic Grayling caught in southern Yukon, Canada. This is the first record of an American Pygmy Shrew being consumed by an Arctic Grayling, and it confirms that Arctic Grayling will consume shrews (Sorex spp.) when they are available. We suspect that the body size of prey is a limiting factor in Arctic Grayling consuming small mammals, with some species of shrews being small enough for Arctic Grayling to consume.

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Issue

Vol. 125 No. 3 (2011)

Section

Notes

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