Shrew is a term applied to a scolding, nagging, bad-tempered woman. Shrews were traditionally punished in Britain under law, with punishments including the ducking stool. Research Shrew
The Alpine shrew (Sorex alpinus) is a uniformly dark coloured shrew, with pale feet and underside of the tail. The lower canine and premolars are clearly bicuspid; the 4th and 5th uni-cuspid teeth the same size. The tail is as long as the head and body. Alpine shrews are found in Alpine meadows and moors at altitudes from 200 to 3335 metres often in rocky habitats, frequenting the stony banks of mountain streams. The alpine shrew is a good climber, using its tail for balance and support. It feeds on snails, earthworms, spiders, isopods, chilopods, insects and insect larvae. The breeding season is from May to October, with two or three litters a year each averaging five or six young, but maybe as many as nine. Research Alpine Shrew
The Appenine shrew or Italian shrews (Sorex samniticus) is a species of European shrew found scattered through Italy. It is visually indistinguishable from the Common Shrew, though it tends to be slightly smaller and with a flatter skull, and has upper incisor cusps divided by a rounded notch. Research Appenine Shrew
The bi-coloured white-toothed shrew (Crocidura leucodon) is a central European shrew recognisable by the clear delineation of greyish-brown upper body and yellowish-white underside. The tail is clearly bi-coloured and there are isolated, pale, long hairs on the tail and the rear of the body. The rostrum of the skull is shorter and deeper than that of the greater white-toothed shrew, and the uni-cuspid teeth are more crowded. It has large protuberant ears and two moults; one in autumn and one in spring. The bi-coloured white-toothed shrew lives in low, dry habitats, shrubby undergrowth, fringes of woods and gardens, compost heaps building a nest of fresh or dry grass in sheltered under-growth, avoiding damp. It feeds on invertebrates and breeds from March to October with a gestation period of 31 days followed by a litter averaging four young. Research Bi-Coloured White-Toothed Shrew
The dusky shrew (Sorex isodon) is a bi-coloured shrew, although the underside appears almost as dark as the upper body. It has broad front feet and uni-cuspid teeth that decrease evenly in size from front to back.
Dusky shrews prefer a wet coniferous forest to live in where they feed on insects, earthworms, spiders, myriapods and small vertebrates including frogs. Dusky shrews are found in Sweden, through Finland and into Russia with a few found scattered throughout the rest of Europe. Research Dusky Shrew
The elephant-shrew or jumping-shrew (Macroscelides) is a small insectivorous mammal, of which there are several species, all found in Africa. They are ground animals, nocturnal in habit, and receive their first common name from their prolonged snouts, and their second from their method of locomotion. The jumping movements are facilitated by the length of the hind legs. Research Elephant-Shrew
The greater white-toothed shrew, or house shrew (Crocidura russula) is a west European species of shrew recognisable by its white teeth white; rather narrow skull elongated in the uni-cuspid tooth region; three uni-cuspid teeth (the third being relatively large); gradual, blurred division between the reddish upper and paler underside; isolated long sparse hairs on the tail.
Greater white-toothed shrews are found in dry ground, grassland, the fringes of woods, gardens and hedges, commonly entering houses, farm outbuildings etc. The animals build a nest of dry grass (or man-made materials in houses) lined with leaves, situated under cover. Predominantly nocturnal, the greater white-toothed shrew feeds on insects and other invertebrates, very occasionally eating small vertebrates, such as lizards and young rodents. A fairly social animal, pairs form in the breeding season and are aggressive to other individuals; during winter, communal nests form, where up to six individuals sleep together. The breeding season lasts from February to November or October in colder areas, and the animals reach sexual maturity at about three months. After a gestation period of between 28 and 33 days a litter of between two and ten young is produced, there may be four or five litters in a year. Research Greater White-Toothed Shrew
The least shrew (Sorex minutissimus) is an extremely small European shrew recognisable by its short and narrow tail and a clear cut division between a dark brown back and lighter flanks and underside. The least shrew lives in wet coniferous forests with moss cover; damp swamp edges, and on the edge of forests with lush grass where it feeds on small insects, insect larvae, spiders and snails, eating up to 2 to 5 times its own weight within 24 hours. Research Least Shrew
The lesser white-toothed shrew (Crocidura suaveolens) is a south European shrew recognisable by its white teeth and the second uni-cuspid tooth markedly smaller than the third in crown view. The teeth appear more variable in size than those of other white-toothed shrews. It is similar to the greater white- toothed shrew but smaller and with a more yellowish coloured underside. The lesser white-toothed shrew lives in dry bracken, tall vegetation and other habitats offering good cover and litterzone. It builds a nest of soft vegetation in sheltered places on heathland and feeds on insects and other invertebrates especially sand hoppers. It is a generally solitary animal, but not as aggressive as Sorex genus shrews. The breeding season is from spring to autumn and the animal may breed in its first year, reaching Sexual maturity at 45 to 50 days old. The gestation period is 28 days and produces a litter of between one and six young and there may be up to four litters in a year. Research Lesser White-Toothed Shrew
Macroscelidea is the elephantshrew order of mammals containing just one family, Macroscelididae. They are adapted for leaping, with hind limbs much longer than the forelimbs; elongated snouts and large eyes and ears. Research Macroscelidea
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Shrew
