The genus
Soriculus is placed within the tribe
Nectogalini. Several former species of the genus has been moved to other genera such as
Chodsigoa and
Episoriculus. although in its description
S. kashmiriensis was noted for being most closely related to species now placed in the genus
Chodsigoa. DNA research has confirmed the close relationship of
Soriculus with the recently extinct
Asoriculus and
Nesiotites shrews from Europe. Until 2023, only a single species
Soriculus nigrescens, was generally considered valid. In 2023 two additional living species belonging to the genus,
Soriculus nivatus and
Soriculus medogensis were proposed, with
S. minor, previously regarded as a subspecies of
Soriculus nigrescens, being proposed as a distinct valid species. In 2024 the species
Soriculus beibengensis was also proposed.
Species •
Soriculus nigrescens (Gray, 1842) native to the southern Himalayas, from Nepal to northern Myanmar from an altitude of 700 m to 4500 m
Proposed species •
Soriculus minor Dobson, 1890 native to the eastern Himalayas, from Bhutan to northern Myanmar as well as southwest China (northwest Yunnan) at an elevation of 1400 m to 2630 m •
Soriculus nivatus Chen & Jiang, 2023, native to the eastern Himalayas in Tibet, at an altitude of 2560 m to 4200 m •
Soriculus medogensis Chen & Jiang, 2023, only known from southeastern Tibet, at an altitude of 2100 m to 2830 m •
Soriculus beibengensis Pei et al, 2024. only known from southeastern Tibet at an altitude of 1500 m to 2125 m •
Soriculus dexingensis Zhang et al. 2025
Mêdog County, Tibet == Ecology ==