# Bicoloured Shrew (*Crocidura leucodon*) The Bicoloured Shrew is a small, furry creature with a unique two-tone coat. It loves to scurry around in the grass, searching for tasty insects and worms to eat. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Bicoloured Shrew](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Crocidura_leucodon.JPG&width=800) Photo: Dodoni, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Crocidura_leucodon.JPG) ## Appearance The Bicoloured Shrew has distinctly two-toned fur, with grayish-brown on its back and sides, contrasting sharply with its pure white belly. It has a pointed snout, tiny eyes, and relatively large ears, giving it a mouse-like appearance but with a longer nose. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Soricomorpha - **Family:** Soricidae - **Genus:** Crocidura ## Interesting facts - Bicoloured Shrews can make high-pitched chirping sounds, like birds! - Its tiny heart beats over 800 times every single minute! - Their tiny teeth wear out quickly from constant, speedy eating. - These shrews spend most of their life tirelessly searching for food. ## Special abilities - **Tiny Eating Machine:** Bicoloured Shrews have a super-fast heart rate and metabolism, making them eat nearly their own weight daily to stay alive. - **Follow the Leader:** Baby Bicoloured Shrews link up in a 'caravan' by biting tails, which helps them follow their mother safely. - **Hidden Hunter:** Bicoloured Shrews use their incredible sense of smell and sensitive whiskers to find hidden insects underground. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 8-13 cm - **Weight:** 0.005-0.013 kg - **Lifespan:** 1-2 years - **Speed:** 12 km/h - **Litter Size:** 3-9 - **Gestation:** 27-33 days ## Diet & Feeding These little hunters munch on bugs, worms, and snails to keep their speedy bodies fueled! - **Primary Foods:** Earthworms, Beetles, Slugs, Snails, Spiders, Insect larvae - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Barn Owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/barn-owl) (*Tyto alba*) — A common nocturnal predator in its habitat. - **Eaten by:** [Red Fox](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-fox) (*Vulpes vulpes*) — An opportunistic predator of small mammals. - **Eaten by:** Least Weasel (*Mustela nivalis*) — A small, agile predator of shrews. - **Hunts:** Common Earthworm (*Lumbricus terrestris*) — A primary food source found in soil. - **Hunts:** [Ground Beetle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ground-beetle) (*Carabus nemoralis*) — Preys on various ground-dwelling insects. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low If you see a shrew, watch it from a distance and don't try to touch it. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Bicoloured Shrew? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Bicoloured Shrew? 8-13 cm ### How much does Bicoloured Shrew weigh? 0.005-0.013 kg ### How long does Bicoloured Shrew live? 1-2 years ### How fast can Bicoloured Shrew move? 12 km/h ### What does Bicoloured Shrew eat? These little hunters munch on bugs, worms, and snails to keep their speedy bodies fueled! ### Where is Bicoloured Shrew usually found? Grasslands ### How does Bicoloured Shrew hunt? Foraging ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Bicoloured Shrew: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bicoloured-shrew)