# Common Shrew (*Sorex araneus*) The Common Shrew is a tiny mammal with a long snout and a furry body. They are quick and love to scurry around looking for insects and worms to eat! - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Common Shrew](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Sorex_araneus2.JPG&width=800) Photo: Manuel R., CC BY 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sorex_araneus2.JPG) ## Appearance The Common Shrew has a velvety, dark brown back that fades to a lighter, greyish-white belly. It features a long, pointed, mobile snout, tiny eyes, and small, almost hidden ears, making it visually distinct from mice or voles. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Soricomorpha - **Family:** Soricidae - **Genus:** Sorex ## Interesting facts - A shrew's tiny heart can beat an astonishing 1200 times per minute, making them super speedy! - Common Shrews eat up to 90% of their body weight daily, needing food every few hours! - Red-tipped teeth make them strong for crunching tough insect exoskeletons! - Unlike many small mammals, Common Shrews do not hibernate, staying active even through winter. ## Special abilities - **Winter Shrink:** Common Shrews can shrink their skull and brain in winter, helping them survive cold periods with less energy and food. - **Caravan Travel:** Common Shrews have a unique 'caravan' behavior where young link up to travel safely behind their mother in a line. - **Super Sniffer:** Common Shrews use their incredibly long, mobile snouts to constantly probe and find hidden insects and worms underground. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 6-9 cm - **Weight:** 0.005-0.012 kg - **Lifespan:** 1-1.5 years - **Speed:** 7 km/h - **Litter Size:** 4-10 - **Gestation:** 19-21 days ## Diet & Feeding These tiny hunters constantly search for insects and other small invertebrates to fuel their speedy lives. - **Primary Foods:** Beetles, Larvae, Earthworms, Spiders, Slugs, Snails - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Tawny Owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tawny-owl) (*Strix aluco*) — A common nocturnal predator that often hunts shrews. - **Eaten by:** [Red Fox](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-fox) (*Vulpes vulpes*) — Often preys on shrews, though their scent can make them less appealing. - **Eats:** [Earthworm](https://www.snappit.app/explore/earthworm) (*Lumbricus terrestris*) — An important food source, often dug out from underground. - **Eats:** [Ground Beetle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ground-beetle) (*Pterostichus melanarius*) — One of many beetle species consumed by the hungry shrew. ## 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. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Shrews are small and shy, so it's best to watch them from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Common 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 Common Shrew? 6-9 cm ### How much does Common Shrew weigh? 0.005-0.012 kg ### How long does Common Shrew live? 1-1.5 years ### How fast can Common Shrew move? 7 km/h ### What does Common Shrew eat? These tiny hunters constantly search for insects and other small invertebrates to fuel their speedy lives. ### Where is Common Shrew usually found? Grasslands ### How does Common 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: [Common Shrew: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-shrew)