Eurasian pygmy shrew

Pygmy shrew ( Sorex minutus)

The pygmy shrew ( Sorex minutus) is a mammal of the family of shrews. They colonized large parts of Europe and northern Asia.

Mark

The pygmy shrew is similar to the shrew, but is significantly smaller; it is one of the smallest land-living mammals of Europe. The head-body length is 42-66 mm, tail length 35 to 46 mm and weight of 2.6 to 5.9 g, the top and the edges are brown, the underside is gray. Compared with the shrew she has a thicker and longer tail.

Dissemination

The range of the pygmy shrew includes most of Europe and extends eastward to Lake Baikal and the Himalayas. It is lacking in Europe in the south of the Iberian Peninsula, as well as all the Mediterranean islands and is limited in the rest of the Mediterranean and in South Eastern Europe to the mountains.

Habitat

The pygmy shrew colonized wet meadows, bogs and mixed forests. In northern Europe, it prefers dry, sandy sites. Overall, it is rarer than the shrew.

Way of life

Dwarf shrews eat mainly insects and their larvae and spiders, rarely snails or earthworms. The propagation takes place from April to October. A female has include up to three litters a year, each of 2-8, usually 5-6 boy. The newly born, very immature young mice weigh only 0.25 g The eyes open at about the 18th day of life, weaning takes place after 21 days. The animals are up to 16 months old in the wild. In winter, reduce dwarf shrews size and weight. Also, the institutional and cranial vault then lose in size.

Inventory and risk

The pygmy shrew is out in Germany in the Red List as safely. The world stock shall, according to IUCN also as safely.