# White-toothed Shrews (*Crocidurinae*) White-toothed shrews are small, furry animals that love to dig and explore! They have tiny eyes and a long snout, which helps them find food in the ground. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests ![White-toothed Shrews](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Crocidura_russula_2601.jpg&width=800) Photo: Balles2601 ( iNaturalist profile : Balles2601 ), CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Crocidura_russula_2601.jpg) ## Appearance The White-toothed Shrews has soft, velvety fur, typically grayish-brown on its back and lighter, often whitish, on its belly. Unlike many other shrews, they possess distinct white teeth, a key feature that gives them their name and helps distinguish them from red-toothed shrew species. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Soricomorpha - **Family:** Soricidae - **Genus:** Crocidura ## Interesting facts - A shrew's heart can beat over 1000 times a minute, making them super energetic! - These tiny mammals are not rodents; they are more closely related to moles! - They must eat almost constantly, sometimes more than their own body weight daily! - White-toothed shrews have a strong sense of smell, helping them find food and avoid danger. ## Special abilities - **Rapid Metabolism:** White-toothed Shrews have an incredibly high metabolism that allows them to process food quickly, enabling them to stay active and forage almost constantly. - **Echolocation-like Hearing:** White-toothed Shrews can emit high-frequency squeaks that act like sonar, helping them navigate dark tunnels and locate prey in their environment. - **Caravan Travel:** White-toothed Shrews babies can form a 'caravan' by gripping the tail of the shrew in front, helping them follow their mother safely to new nests. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 4-15 cm - **Weight:** 0.002-0.03 kg - **Lifespan:** 1-2 years - **Speed:** 10 km/h - **Litter Size:** 3-10 - **Gestation:** 18-30 days ## Diet & Feeding Tiny shrews munch mostly on insects and worms, but also enjoy other small creepy-crawlies! - **Primary Foods:** Insects, Worms, Slugs, Spiders, Small snails - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Barn Owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/barn-owl) (*Tyto alba*) — A common nocturnal predator, especially in open habitats. - **Eaten by:** [Red Fox](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-fox) (*Vulpes vulpes*) — Often preyed upon by foxes, despite their musky scent. - **Eats:** Common Earthworm (*Lumbricus terrestris*) — A primary food source found abundantly in the soil. - **Eats:** [Ground Beetle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ground-beetle) (*Carabus nemoralis*) — Actively hunts and consumes 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. - [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. - [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 It's best to watch shrews from a distance and not try to touch them, as they can be scared easily. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify White-toothed 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 White-toothed Shrews? 4-15 cm ### How much does White-toothed Shrews weigh? 0.002-0.03 kg ### How long does White-toothed Shrews live? 1-2 years ### How fast can White-toothed Shrews move? 10 km/h ### What does White-toothed Shrews eat? Tiny shrews munch mostly on insects and worms, but also enjoy other small creepy-crawlies! ### Where is White-toothed Shrews usually found? Forests ### How does White-toothed Shrews 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: [White-toothed Shrews: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-toothed-shrews)