# Long-tailed Shrews (*Sorex*) Long-tailed shrews are tiny, furry animals with long tails. They are very quick and love to scurry around in the grass looking for insects to eat. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Long-tailed Shrews](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Crocidura_russula_shrew.jpg&width=800) Photo: Sjonge at English Wikipedia, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Crocidura_russula_shrew.jpg) ## Appearance The Long-tailed Shrew has a slender body with dark brown to reddish-brown fur on its back, fading to a lighter grayish-brown underneath. Its most distinguishing feature is a long tail, often as long as its body. It has tiny eyes and a sharply pointed snout. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Soricomorpha - **Family:** Soricidae - **Genus:** Sorex ## Interesting facts - Shrews are not rodents; they are more closely related to moles than to mice! - Some shrews can actually shrink their brains and skulls in winter to save energy! - Their tiny hearts can beat an astonishing 800 times per minute! - They can eat more than their own body weight in food every single day! ## Special abilities - **Sound Navigator:** Long-tailed Shrews can use high-pitched sounds to 'see' their surroundings in the dark, much like bats. - **Energy Dynamo:** Long-tailed Shrews have a super-fast metabolism that helps them stay warm and active in cold environments. - **Super Sniffer:** Long-tailed Shrews have an excellent sense of smell that helps them locate tasty insects and worms underground. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 10-14 cm - **Weight:** 0.003-0.008 kg - **Lifespan:** 1-2 years - **Speed:** 8 km/h - **Litter Size:** 4-8 - **Gestation:** 18-28 days ## Diet & Feeding These tiny hunters gobble up insects and other small creatures to fuel their super speedy lives! - **Primary Foods:** Insects, Earthworms, Spiders, Centipedes, Small slugs - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Great Horned Owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-horned-owl) (*Bubo virginianus*) — A common nocturnal predator of shrews. - **Eaten by:** Least Weasel (*Mustela nivalis*) — A small, agile hunter that preys on shrews. - **Eats:** Common Earthworm (*Lumbricus terrestris*) — A primary food source found in soil. - **Eats:** [Ground Beetle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ground-beetle) (*Carabus nemoralis*) — Shrews actively hunt various species of 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. - [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 It's best to observe shrews from a distance and not try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Long-tailed Shrews? 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 Long-tailed Shrews? 10-14 cm ### How much does Long-tailed Shrews weigh? 0.003-0.008 kg ### How long does Long-tailed Shrews live? 1-2 years ### How fast can Long-tailed Shrews move? 8 km/h ### What does Long-tailed Shrews eat? These tiny hunters gobble up insects and other small creatures to fuel their super speedy lives! ### Where is Long-tailed Shrews usually found? Grasslands ### How does Long-tailed Shrews hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Twanoh State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/twanoh-state-park) — Washington, US · State Park - [Koksilah River Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/koksilah-river-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park ## 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: [Long-tailed Shrews: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/long-tailed-shrews)