Discovery A new shrew was recorded in mist-laden evergreen broadleaf–bamboo mosaics at 1,900–2,300 m. Its sponge-like digital pads and peak activity on foggy nights inspire the common name "Nebulapad Shrew." Diagnostic characters Head–body 65–82 mm; tail 42–58 mm; mass 6.8–11.3 g. Dorsum dark smoky gray, ventrum gray-brown; ears very small and half-concealed; eyes minute; rostrum elongate with long vibrissae. Feet bear thick, microporous "sponge pads" that dampen sound and improve traction on wet litter. Tail cylindrical with sparse tactile bristles apically. Dentition I3/1 C1/1 P3/1 M3/3 = 32; enlarged, chestnut-tipped upper first incisors confirm Soricidae (not Erinaceidae). Distribution & habitat Currently known from cloud-belt forest patches with deep leaf litter, mossy logs, and dense bamboo roots; favors cool, saturated microhabitats and low light. Ecology & behavior Crepuscular–nocturnal with activity peaks in heavy fog; forages silently through litter, taking springtails, beetle larvae, earthworms, slugs, and spiders; occasionally nibbles small fungi. Largely solitary; pathways marked by pedal and anal gland secretions. Alarm call a brief, low "tsk" before diving into bamboo root crevices. Name & etymology Genus Neobathysorex ("new–shadowed–shrew") denotes a cryptic, dimly lit niche; species epithet nebulipes ("fog-footed") highlights fog-aligned behavior and distinctive pads. Proposed Chinese name: 雾跖新深林鼩. Type material Holotype from a north-facing slope at 2,070 m (skin, skull, tissue); paratypes 4 from 1,940–2,280 m. Recommend archiving mtDNA COI, Cyt b and nuclear RAG1 sequences. Conservation (preliminary) Given narrow elevational range and strong dependence on the cloud belt, status tentatively NT–VU. Threats include cloud-layer uplift with warming, bamboo clear-cutting, road fragmentation, and invasive predators. Priorities: define a cloud-belt core buffer, retain coarse woody debris, deploy camera/ultrasonic monitoring, and manage feral cats and rats.
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