Blarinomys

The Brazilian shrew rat ( Blarinomys breviceps ) is a little-known rodent from the highlands of southeastern Brazil. It is the only species of the genus Blarinomys. It occurs in the states of Bahia, Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais. Here it occurs at altitudes around 800 m, mostly in tropical rain forests, but also in more open terrain.

Despite the name, the shrew rat looks more like a mole than a shrew. The eyes are extremely reduced and almost hidden under the skin, as well as the ears. The coat is very short haired, very shortened the tail. But because the head shape is reminiscent of the short-tailed shrews, the shrew rat has been named after these: In the generic name Blarinomys Blarina, the scientific name of the short-tailed shrews infected.

The shrew rat is about 15 cm long, of which 4 cm on the tail. She performs a grave lifestyle. The burrows whose entrances are hidden mostly under fallen leaves, first lead about 25 cm straight down and then in a gentler inclination angle further down. The food is still unknown, but is likely to consist of insects and worms.