Description ²

The common shrew, one of Britain's most abundant mammals has a long, flexible snout, tiny ears and small eyes typical of most shrews. The fur is dark brown on the back, with paler brown flanks and a pale belly. Juveniles have lighter fur until they undergo their first moult, after which their winter coat grows. This species is a 'red-toothed shrew'; iron is deposited in the enamel of the crowns of the teeth, making them more resistant to wear-and-tear. The Latin name araneus means 'spider'; this refers to the old belief that shrews were poisonous, like spiders.

Sources and Credits

1. (c) Aleksandar, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Aleksandar
2. (c) Wildscreen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/6687555

More Info

• iNat taxon page
• Animal Diversity Web
• ASM Mammal Diversity Database
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• BOLD Systems BIN search
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• iNaturalist Mammal Working Group
• NBN Atlas
• VertNet

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