Diagnosis.—Size large; average and extreme measurements of 3 topotypes are: total length, 141.7 (141-143); tail, 59 (54-63); hind foot, 17 (17-17). Color reddish in summer, somewhat grayer in winter.
Fig. 16. Probable geographic ranges of 16 subspecies of Sorex vagrans.
| Guide to subspecies 1. S. v. shumaginensis 2. S. v. obscurus 3. S. v. alascensis 4. S. v. soperi 5. S. v. isolatus | 6. S. v. setosus 7. S. v. bairdi 8. S. v. permiliensis 9. S. v. yaquinae 10. S. v. pacificus 11. S. v. sonomae |
12. S. v. longiquus 13. S. v. parvidens 14. S. v. monticola 15. S. v. neomexicanus 16. S. v. orizabae |
Comparisons.—Differs from S. v. pacificus, with which it intergrades to the north, in average smaller size and somewhat darker color; differs from the sympatric S. v. vagrans in much larger size and more reddish color in both summer and winter.
Remarks.—This subspecies inhabits the Transition Life-zone below 300 feet, and occurs on moist ground in forests and beneath dense vegetation.
Marginal records.—California: Point Arena (Grinnell, 1933:82); Monte Rio (Jackson, 1928:144); Inverness (Grinnell, 1933:82).