Common Shrew
Sorex araneus
The Common Shrew is a tiny, restless insectivore of hedgerows, grasslands, woodland edges, and damp leaf litter across much of Europe and northern Asia. It hunts almost constantly for insects, worms, spiders, and other small invertebrates, using a long sensitive snout and quick reflexes to locate prey. Despite its size, it is fiercely territorial and may fight other shrews with sharp bites. A notable fact is that it undergoes Dehnel's phenomenon, shrinking parts of its skull and body in winter to reduce energy needs, then regrowing in spring.
- Type
- Fang
- Conservation status
- LC
Growth chain
- ?
- Common Shrew