# Shrews (*Soricidae*) Shrews are tiny, mouse-like mammals with long noses and sharp teeth. They are very active and love to dig in the ground to find food like insects and worms. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests - **Also known as:** Shrew ![Shrews](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424406/objects/3793.jpg) ## Appearance The Shrews has a tiny, mouse-like body, covered in soft, dense fur that is typically grey, brown, or black. They are easily recognized by their long, pointed snout and very small eyes, which makes them look distinct from rodents. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Soricomorpha - **Family:** Soricidae ## Interesting facts - Shrews are found almost everywhere on Earth except Australia and Antarctica. - Shrews have such tiny eyes, they rely more on hearing and smell to navigate their world. - Some shrews can amazingly shrink their own brains and skulls in winter to survive cold. - Their tiny heart beats incredibly fast, over 1000 times a minute when active! ## Special abilities - **Hyper Metabolism:** Shrews has an incredibly fast metabolism that helps them stay constantly active and energetic, needing to eat almost non-stop. - **Sound Navigator:** Certain Shrews can use echolocation, emitting high-frequency sounds that help them 'see' in the dark to navigate and find prey. - **Venomous Bite:** Shrews like the Northern Short-tailed Shrew have venom in their saliva that helps them quickly subdue larger prey. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 3-18 cm - **Weight:** 0.002-0.05 kg - **Lifespan:** 1-2 years - **Speed:** 6 km/h - **Litter Size:** 2-10 - **Gestation:** 18-28 days ## Diet & Feeding Shrews are tiny hunters that mostly feast on insects, worms, and other small critters they find. - **Primary Foods:** Insects, Worms, Spiders, Slugs, Small Mollusks - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Great Horned Owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-horned-owl) (*Bubo virginianus*) — Nocturnal owls often hunt shrews, especially young ones. - **Eaten by:** Least Weasel (*Mustela nivalis*) — Agile weasels are skilled predators of small mammals like shrews. - **Hunts:** Common Earthworm (*Lumbricus terrestris*) — Shrews actively burrow and search for earthworms in the soil. - **Hunts:** [Ground Beetle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ground-beetle) (*Carabus nemoralis*) — Many ground beetle species are a primary food source for shrews. ## 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. - [Burrowing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/burrowing): Burrowing animals dig tunnels and chambers in the ground, using these subterranean structures for shelter, hunting, or breeding. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [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. - [Venomous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/venomous): Venomous organisms produce toxins that are injected into another animal, typically through a bite or sting. ## 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 observe them from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify 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 Shrews? 3-18 cm ### How much does Shrews weigh? 0.002-0.05 kg ### How long does Shrews live? 1-2 years ### How fast can Shrews move? 6 km/h ### What does Shrews eat? Shrews are tiny hunters that mostly feast on insects, worms, and other small critters they find. ### Where is Shrews usually found? Forests ### How does Shrews hunt? Foraging ## Watch - [Play video: Shrews](https://www.snappit.app/videos/shrews) - [YouTube](https://www.snappit.app/rejected_by_user) ## 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: [Shrews: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/shrews)