Short Description
The common shrew has quite a pointed muzzle and small eyes. Its upper parts are black-brown. Its flanks are light brown. Its underside is greyish. The tiny outer ears are partially covered by fur. Its teeth are red-brown. It has five splayed toes on each of its front and back paws. A fine line from its tail can also often be seen.
Juveniles have paler upper parts and less contrast between the colours of back and flanks.
Features
Common shrew
Sorex araneus
long, pointed nose
small ears
In the city
The common shrew prefers habitats that are close to water, damp and with thick vegetation. However, it is highly adaptable and also inhabits numerous dry locations. For that reason, it is also found in areas with open dunes. In contrast with the more common bicoloured shrew, the common shrew is rarely found in towns.
Fun Facts
Common shrews are active during day and night.
The common shrew is not a mouse. It is an insectivore and more closely related to hedgehogs and moles.
The heart of a shrew beats approx. 800 to 1000 times per minute.
- Endangerment level Germany: not endangered
Each day, the common shrew consumes a multiple of its own bodyweight.
Sources
Habitus , James Lindsey, CC-BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sorex.araneus.-.lindsey.jpg
Habitus , Sophie von Merten, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sorex-araneus.jpg
Jungtier, WWalas, CC-BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SorexAraneus_wwalas_01.JPG
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Resch, C. & Resch, S. (2016) Waldspitzmaus - Sorex araneus. Internethandbuch über Kleinsäugerarten im mitteleuropäischen Raum: Körpermerkmale, Ökologie und Verbreitung, Haus im Ennstal: apodemus - Priv. Institut f. Wildtierbiologie, URL: http://kleinsaeuger.at/sorex-araneus.html (Accessed: 29.12.2016).
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