Wildlifeof Nepal
Eurasian Pygmy Shrew
Pangolins, Treeshrews, Shrews & Gymnures
Photo: (c) Nadezhda Kiseleva, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY
Sorex minutus
Basic stats
Diet
Small invertebrates; eats up to 125% of its body weight daily
Habitat
Dense vegetation across a broad elevation range
Litter size
2–8 young
Gestation period
Just over 3 weeks
Size
About 5cm; tail 3.5cm
Weight
About 4g
The Eurasian pygmy shrew is a widespread shrew of the northern Palearctic. It is about 5cm long, plus a 3.5cm tail, and averages about 4g. The dense, shiny fur is blackish on the back with reddish to purplish shades, contrasting with a whitish belly, throat, jaw and lower tail. The ears are small and half hidden by fur (Wikipedia, general species account).
It is solitary and active day and night, with one of the highest metabolic rates of any animal, so it must eat roughly every two hours. Females produce two to eight young per litter after just over three weeks, and can have up to five litters a year, though life span is a little over 15 months. The breeding season runs from April to August. Nationally Data Deficient (Nepal National Red List 2011).
Quick answers
- What does the Eurasian Pygmy Shrew eat?
- Small invertebrates; eats up to 125% of its body weight daily
- What habitat does the Eurasian Pygmy Shrew live in?
- Dense vegetation across a broad elevation range
- What is the litter size of the Eurasian Pygmy Shrew?
- 2–8 young
- How long is the gestation period of the Eurasian Pygmy Shrew?
- Just over 3 weeks
- How big is the Eurasian Pygmy Shrew?
- About 5cm; tail 3.5cm
- How much does the Eurasian Pygmy Shrew weigh?
- About 4g