A new species of the genus Soriculus (Soricidae, Eulipotyphla, Mammalia) from Medog, Tibet, China, based on morphological and molecular data

The genus <i>Soriculus</i> (Soricidae, Eulipotyphla) currently comprises five recognized species, predominantly distributed in the Himalayas and the Gaoligong Mountains. During our survey of small mammals in Medog County, Tibet, China, 11 <i>Soriculus</i> specimens were collected. In this study, we conducted phylogenetic analyses of the genus using one mitochondrial gene (<i>Cytb</i>) and three nuclear genes (<i>BRCA1</i>, <i>APOB</i>, and <i>RAG2</i>) to assess the phylogenetic relationships of these specimens. The morphology of the 11 specimens was compared with other species within the genus. Our results demonstrate that these specimens represent a new species, <i>Soriculus dexingensis</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> Phylogenetic analyses revealed that <i>S. dexingensis</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> forms a distinct sister clade to <i>S. medogensis</i>, and the Kimura 2-Parameter (K2P) distances between all known species of <i>Soriculus</i> ranged from 0.111 to 0.187, indicating interspecific divergence. Morphologically, the new species is distinguished by a relatively longer tail and a significantly higher TL/HB ratio. The discovery of <i>S. dexingensis</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> in Medog County suggests that the diversity of <i>Soriculus</i> species remains underestimated. Further biodiversity surveys of small mammals across the Himalayan region are warranted.