Eurasian least shrew

Tots shrew ( Sorex minutissimus )

The tot shrew ( Sorex minutissimus ) is a small mammal in the family of shrews. It is named after the Etruscan shrew is the second smallest species of the family. Of the various described subspecies are not universally recognized.

Features

This shrew is only about 4 cm body length and comes to an approximately 2.5 cm long tail. The weight is between 1.5 and 4 g, depending on the season is the fur on the top red-brown or gray-brown. There is a striking border with light gray underside. The hair of the tail is only sparse.

Distribution and habitat

The main distribution area extends from Lapland Russia to the Pacific coast of the Japanese island of Hokkaido including. Other finds are scattered over other parts of Norway and Sweden documented. The southernmost occurrences are in central Kazakhstan, the central Mongolia and northeastern China. Regarding the habitat the species is variable, it lives eg in woods, on barren mountain ranges and wetlands. In winter it is often encountered in buildings.

Way of life

The activity times are distributed throughout the day and in between breaks that are a maximum of one hour. The tot shrew feeds on small animals, which are usually less than 1.5 mm, so she eats no earthworms. The prey animals include insects and their larvae, and arachnids. In individual cases, carrion is eaten. A tot shrew eats every day more than your own body mass.

Females mate once or twice per year and per litter will be 3 to 6 pups born. The life span in the wild is unknown but individuals in captivity were up to 2.5 years old.

The species is managed by the IUCN as not at risk.