Lesser white-toothed shrew
Encyclopedia
The Lesser White-toothed Shrew (Crocidura suaveolens) is a tiny shrew
with a widespread distribution in Africa
, Asia
and Europe
, but not in most of Spain
, north–west France
and mainland Great Britain
. Its preferred habitat is scrub and gardens and it feeds on insects, worms, slugs, snails and small mice. The closely related Asian Lesser White-toothed Shrew (Crocidura shantungensis) was once included in this species, but is now considered to be a separate species.
Like the common shrew
, a female lesser white-toothed shrew and her young may form a "caravan" when foraging for food or seeking a place of safety: each shrew grips the tail of the shrew in front so that the group stays together.
, off the south-west coast of England
was once thought to be a sub–species, Crocidura suaveolens cassiteridum, and is known as the Scilly Shrew. Skull and tooth measurements of individuals from Scilly are found to be intermediate in size of those in the Channel Islands
and the darker fur of the Scilly specimens is not considered a valid reason for the naming of a sub–species. It is unusual in that it can be found on the islands' beaches. Archaeological remains indicate that it was present on the islands in the bronze age
, so it may have been present before the Isles of Scilly became separated from the European continent, or may have migrated from the Channel Islands or Europe on-board ships.
In July 1924 W N Blair found an unknown species of Shrew on Gugh
and sent it to the mammal expert, Mr Hinton, at the British Museum
. This specimen, held at the museum, is the type
for the species. Ten years earlier H N Robinson found an unknown rodent at Old Town St Mary's and sent it to Mr F W Smalley "who had the largest collection of rodents in the country". The Scillonian name for the animal is "teak" or "teke".
In 2010, a Scilly shrew made headlines on BBC Cornwall when it stowed away
on the passenger ferry RMV Scillonian III. It was only discovered as the ship was about to arrive in Penzance. The shrew was flown back to the Isles of Scilly the next day on a Skybus
plane and then released back into its natural environment.
Shrew
A shrew or shrew mouse is a small molelike mammal classified in the order Soricomorpha. True shrews are also not to be confused with West Indies shrews, treeshrews, otter shrews, or elephant shrews, which belong to different families or orders.Although its external appearance is generally that of...
with a widespread distribution in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, but not in most of Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, north–west France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and mainland Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
. Its preferred habitat is scrub and gardens and it feeds on insects, worms, slugs, snails and small mice. The closely related Asian Lesser White-toothed Shrew (Crocidura shantungensis) was once included in this species, but is now considered to be a separate species.
Like the common shrew
Common Shrew
The Common Shrew or Eurasian Shrew, Sorex araneus, is the most common shrew, and one of the most common mammals, throughout Northern Europe, including Great Britain, but excluding Ireland. It is long and weighs , and has velvety dark brown fur with a pale underside. Juvenile shrews have lighter...
, a female lesser white-toothed shrew and her young may form a "caravan" when foraging for food or seeking a place of safety: each shrew grips the tail of the shrew in front so that the group stays together.
The Scilly Shrew
The population found on the Isles of ScillyIsles of Scilly
The Isles of Scilly form an archipelago off the southwestern tip of the Cornish peninsula of Great Britain. The islands have had a unitary authority council since 1890, and are separate from the Cornwall unitary authority, but some services are combined with Cornwall and the islands are still part...
, off the south-west coast of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
was once thought to be a sub–species, Crocidura suaveolens cassiteridum, and is known as the Scilly Shrew. Skull and tooth measurements of individuals from Scilly are found to be intermediate in size of those in the Channel Islands
Channel Islands
The Channel Islands are an archipelago of British Crown Dependencies in the English Channel, off the French coast of Normandy. They include two separate bailiwicks: the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey...
and the darker fur of the Scilly specimens is not considered a valid reason for the naming of a sub–species. It is unusual in that it can be found on the islands' beaches. Archaeological remains indicate that it was present on the islands in the bronze age
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
, so it may have been present before the Isles of Scilly became separated from the European continent, or may have migrated from the Channel Islands or Europe on-board ships.
In July 1924 W N Blair found an unknown species of Shrew on Gugh
Gugh
Gugh could be described as the sixth inhabited island of the Isles of Scilly, but is usually included with St Agnes with which it is joined by a sandy tombolo known as "The Bar" when exposed at low tide. The island is only one km long and about 0.5 km wide, with the highest point, Kittern...
and sent it to the mammal expert, Mr Hinton, at the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
. This specimen, held at the museum, is the type
Type species
In biological nomenclature, a type species is both a concept and a practical system which is used in the classification and nomenclature of animals and plants. The value of a "type species" lies in the fact that it makes clear what is meant by a particular genus name. A type species is the species...
for the species. Ten years earlier H N Robinson found an unknown rodent at Old Town St Mary's and sent it to Mr F W Smalley "who had the largest collection of rodents in the country". The Scillonian name for the animal is "teak" or "teke".
In 2010, a Scilly shrew made headlines on BBC Cornwall when it stowed away
Stowaway
A stowaway is a person who secretly boards a vehicle, such as an aircraft, bus, ship, cargo truck or train, to travel without paying and without being detected....
on the passenger ferry RMV Scillonian III. It was only discovered as the ship was about to arrive in Penzance. The shrew was flown back to the Isles of Scilly the next day on a Skybus
Isles of Scilly Skybus
Isles of Scilly Skybus is a British airline which operates seasonal and year round domestic scheduled services to the Isles of Scilly from Land's End Airport and Newquay Airport in Cornwall, and from Exeter, Bristol and Southampton...
plane and then released back into its natural environment.