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Eurasian water shrew - NEOMYS FODIENS
Class: Animals with Milk Glands (Mammalia)
The Name "Shrew": "Shrew" comes from the Middle English word "shrewe," for the animal.
Description: The water shrew is a mouse-sized insectivore with a moderately long pointed snout, and a long tail with a distinct keel formed of stiff hairs. It has large feet with hairy fringe, and small eyes and ears. Its fur is dense, velvety gray dorsally and whitish beneath. Length of head and body, 2.8 to 3.8", weight, 0.4 to 0.6 oz.
Location: Europe.
Habitat: Aquatic and terrestrial. Wet forest. Streams, marshes.
Behavior: The water shrew is particularly adapted to aquatic habits. It can live at least 2 miles away from water but usually inhabits stream banks in which it burrows extensively. Entrances are above or below water and tunnels are made narrow to squeeze water from the animal's fur. The shrew is solitary and active day and night throughout the year. It swims fast, remaining submerged up to 20 seconds, hunting frogs, fish, snails, mollusks, and insects, which it immobilizes with its venomous saliva. The shrew propels itself in the water with its fringed hind feet, using its keeled tail as a rudder. Its ear passage is closed by two valves. Very few mammals are venomous, so see also the solenodon and the platypus.
Reproduction: Breeding is in April through September, with two or more litters of 3-8 young per season. Gestation is about 24 days, but longer in nursing females. The offspring are weaned in about 37 days.
Go to the Insectivores Page to get a general discussion of these animals.
Go to the Shrew Index to study other types of shrews.
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