Unexpectedly high genetic diversity of the asiatic short-tailed shrews Blarinella (Mammalia, Lipotyphla, Soricidae).

Genetic diversity of the genus Blarinella was studied using one mitochondrial and four nuclear genes as examples. The first genotyping of shrews from the southeast of Gansu province (China), which is a typical habitat of B. griselda, has been performed. Molecular genetic analysis showed that Blarinella sp. from southern Gansu stand apart among the other representatives of the genus and can be assigned to neither of the known species.