# Greater White-toothed Shrew (*Crocidura russula*) The Greater White-toothed Shrew is a tiny mammal with a long nose and sharp teeth. It loves to scurry around in the grass and hunt for insects to eat. These little creatures are very quick and can be found in many places! - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Greater White-toothed Shrew](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/WLMMH_%28DerHexer%29_022.jpg&width=800) Photo: DerHexer , Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:WLMMH_%28DerHexer%29_022.jpg) ## Appearance The Greater White-toothed Shrew has soft, grey-brown fur with a lighter, whitish belly and a long, pointed snout. Its small eyes and ears are often hidden, and it has distinctive white-tipped teeth. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Soricomorpha - **Family:** Soricidae - **Genus:** Crocidura ## Interesting facts - Despite being so small, these shrews can be fierce hunters of insects and worms! - It finds food using sensitive whiskers and smell, relying little on its tiny eyes! - Some shrews shrink their skull and brain in winter, then regrow it in spring! - This tiny shrew has a heart that can beat over 1,000 times per minute! ## Special abilities - **Energy Machine:** Greater White-toothed Shrew has an incredibly fast metabolism that helps them stay warm and active, but requires constant feeding. - **Sound Navigator:** Greater White-toothed Shrew can make high-pitched ultrasonic sounds that help them explore their surroundings in the dark. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 6.3-8.6 cm - **Weight:** 0.005-0.015 kg - **Lifespan:** 1-2 years - **Speed:** 7 km/h - **Litter Size:** 2-10 - **Gestation:** 27-33 days ## Diet & Feeding This tiny hunter eats many insects and other small creatures to keep its speedy metabolism going! - **Primary Foods:** Insects, Worms, Slugs, Spiders - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Barn Owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/barn-owl) (*Tyto alba*) — A common predator, they hunt shrews at night. - **Eaten by:** [Red Fox](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-fox) (*Vulpes vulpes*) — Foxes may eat shrews, though not their main meal. - **Hunts:** Common Earthworm (*Lumbricus terrestris*) — Earthworms are a vital part of the shrew's diet. - **Hunts:** [Ground Beetle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ground-beetle) (*Carabus nemoralis*) — Shrews actively hunt and eat various ground beetles. ## 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. - [Miniature](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/miniature): Pertaining to species that are significantly smaller than typical or average for their kind. - [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 These little animals are shy and prefer to be left alone. It's best to watch them from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Greater White-toothed 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 Greater White-toothed Shrew? 6.3-8.6 cm ### How much does Greater White-toothed Shrew weigh? 0.005-0.015 kg ### How long does Greater White-toothed Shrew live? 1-2 years ### How fast can Greater White-toothed Shrew move? 7 km/h ### What does Greater White-toothed Shrew eat? This tiny hunter eats many insects and other small creatures to keep its speedy metabolism going! ### Where is Greater White-toothed Shrew usually found? Grasslands ### How does Greater White-toothed 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: [Greater White-toothed Shrew: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/greater-white-toothed-shrew)