Five distinct chromosome races of the common shrew Sorex araneus Linna
eus, 1758 including different metacentrics with monobrachial homology
have been found in Poland. Their karyotypes include polymorphic arm co
mbinations, and chromosomal forms differing in numbers of acrocentrics
can be distinguished among them. The relationship between Polish and
other European races of the common shrew has been examined by phylogen
etic analysis using parsimony. Five phylogenetic groups of the common
shrew, two of them consist only of one race, can be recognized in Euro
pe. The Polish races belong to two groups: the West European and East
European phylogenetic groups. A model of chromosomal evolution in the
common shrew consisting of two components, an allopatric one and a par
apatric or stasipatric one, has been proposed. This model is based on
the distribution of different races and different metacentrics in kary
otypes of shrews in Poland and in central Europe.