Species Profile
Environmental Conservation Online System

Buena Vista Lake Ornate Shrew (Sorex ornatus ssp. relictus)

Kingdom: Animalia
Class: Mammalia
Order: Soricomorpha
Family: Soricidae

Listing Status:   

Where Listed: WHEREVER FOUND

General Information

The Buena Vista Lake shrew (Sorex ornatus relictus) is one of nine subspecies of ornate shrew (Sorex ornatus) known to occur in California. Ornate shrews are primarily insectivorous (insect-eating) mammals that are the approximate size of a mouse. Shrews make up the family Soricidae. Shrews have a long snout, tiny bead-like eyes, ears that are concealed, or nearly concealed, by soft fur, and five toes on each foot. They are active day or night. When they are not sleeping, they are searching for food, namely insects and other small invertebrates. Shrews eat more than their own weight each day to avoid starvation and maintain their body weight at high rates of metabolism. The specific feeding and foraging habits of the Buena Vista Lake shrew are unknown. The Buena Vista Lake shrew's back is predominantly black with a buffy-brown speckling pattern, its sides are more buffy-brown than the upper surface, and its underside is smoke-gray. The tail is faintly bicolor and blackens toward the end both above and below. The Buena Vista Lake shrew grows to around 4 inches in total length, including a tail of about 1.5 inch. Adults weigh 0.14-0.27 ounce.

Map of Species occurrence

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Map Image Map of Species occurrence Map of Species occurrence

This map represents our best available information about where a species is currently known to or or is believed to occur; however, it should NOT be used as an official species list for Section 7 Consultation purposes. To obtain an official species list for this purpose, please visit the Information, Planning, and Conservation (IPaC) System (click here: http://ecos.fws.gov/ipac)



This species is listed wherever it is found, but
Current Listing Status Summary
Status Date Listed Lead Region Where Listed
03/06/2002 California/Nevada Region (Region 8) Entire

» Federal Register Documents

Most Recent Federal Register Documents (Showing 5 of 21: view all)
Date Citation Page Title
07/10/2012 77 FR 40705 40733 Designation of Critical Habitat for Buena Vista Lake Shrew; Proposed Rule
04/27/2012 77 FR 25112 25116 5-Year Reviews of Species in California and Nevada
04/28/2011 76 FR 23781 23786 Designation of Critical Habitat for the Buena Vista Lake Shrew ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening of comment period.
05/21/2010 75 FR 28636 28642 Initiation of 5-Year Reviews of 34 Species in California and Nevada; Availability of 96 Completed 5-Year Reviews in California and Nevada
10/21/2009 74 FR 53999 54017 Designation of Critical Habitat for the Buena Vista Lake shrew: Proposed rule.

» Recovery

Recovery Plan Information Search
Current Recovery Plan(s)
Date Title Plan Action Status Plan Status
09/30/1998 Recovery Plan for Upland Species of the San Joaquin Valley, California View Implementation Progress Final
Other Recovery Documents (Showing 2 of 2)
Date Citation Page Title Document Type
04/27/2012 77 FR 25112 25116 5-Year Reviews of Species in California and Nevada
  • Notice 5-year Review, Completion
    • 05/21/2010 75 FR 28636 28642 Initiation of 5-Year Reviews of 34 Species in California and Nevada; Availability of 96 Completed 5-Year Reviews in California and Nevada
  • Notice 5-year Review, Initiation
    • Five Year Review
    Date Title
    09/08/2011 Buena Vista Lake Ornate Shrew (Sorex ornatus relictus) 5-Year Review

    » Critical Habitat

    Current Critical Habitat Documents (Showing 4 of 4)
    Date Citation Page Title Document Type Status
    07/10/2012 77 FR 40705 40733 Designation of Critical Habitat for Buena Vista Lake Shrew; Proposed Rule Proposed Rule Not Required
    10/21/2009 74 FR 53999 54017 Designation of Critical Habitat for the Buena Vista Lake shrew: Proposed rule. Proposed Rule Not Required
    01/24/2005 70 FR 3438 3461 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Final Rule to Designate Critical Habitat for the Buena Vista Lake shrew (Sorex ornatus relictus) Final Rule Final designated
    08/19/2004 69 FR 51417 51442 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Proposed Designation of Critical Habitat for the Buena Vista Lake Shrew Proposed Rule Not Required

    To learn more about critical habitat please see http://criticalhabitat.fws.gov

    » Conservation Plans

    Habitat Conservation Plans (HCP) (learn more) (Showing 2 of 2)
    HCP Plan Summaries
    Kern Water Bank
    PG&E San Joaquin Valley Operations & Maintenance HCP

    » Petitions

    Most Recent Petition Findings (Showing 1 of 1)
    Date Citation Page Title Finding
    12/30/1988 53 FR 53030 53031 Findings on Petitions & Initiation of Status Reviews; 53 FR 53030-53031
  • Notice 90-day Petition Finding, Substantial

    • » Life History

    No Life History information has been entered into this system for this species.

    » Other Resources

    NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

    ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.

    Last updated: February 14, 2013