Sorex
Encyclopedia
The genus Sorex includes many of the common shrews of Eurasia
and North America
. Members of this genus, known as long-tailed shrews, are the only members of the tribe Soricini of the subfamily Soricinae (red-toothed shrews). They have 32 teeth.
These animals have long pointed snouts, small ears which are often not visible and scent glands located on the side of the body. As their eyesight is generally poor, they rely on hearing and smell to locate their prey, mainly insects. Some species also use echolocation
. It is often difficult to distinguish between species without examining the dental pattern.
In some species, a female shrew and her dependent young form "caravans", in which each shrew grasps the rear of the shrew in front, when changing location.
Eurasia
Eurasia is a continent or supercontinent comprising the traditional continents of Europe and Asia ; covering about 52,990,000 km2 or about 10.6% of the Earth's surface located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres...
and North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. Members of this genus, known as long-tailed shrews, are the only members of the tribe Soricini of the subfamily Soricinae (red-toothed shrews). They have 32 teeth.
These animals have long pointed snouts, small ears which are often not visible and scent glands located on the side of the body. As their eyesight is generally poor, they rely on hearing and smell to locate their prey, mainly insects. Some species also use echolocation
Animal echolocation
Echolocation, also called biosonar, is the biological sonar used by several kinds of animals.Echolocating animals emit calls out to the environment and listen to the echoes of those calls that return from various objects near them. They use these echoes to locate and identify the objects...
. It is often difficult to distinguish between species without examining the dental pattern.
In some species, a female shrew and her dependent young form "caravans", in which each shrew grasps the rear of the shrew in front, when changing location.
Species
- Genus Sorex
- Kashmir Pygmy ShrewKashmir Pygmy ShrewThe Kashmir Pygmy Shrew is a species of mammal in the Soricidae family. It is found in India and Pakistan.-References:* Insectivore Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 30 July 2007....
(S. planiceps) - Tibetan ShrewTibetan ShrewThe Tibetan Shrew is a species of mammal in the Soricidae family. It is found in China.-References:* Insectivore Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 30 July 2007....
(S. thibetanus) - Subgenus Otisorex
- Long-tailed ShrewLong-tailed ShrewThe Long-tailed Shrew or Rock Shrew is a small North American shrew found in Atlantic Canada and the north-eastern United States....
(S. dispar)- Sorex dispar blitchi
- Sorex dispar dispar
- Smoky ShrewSmoky ShrewThe Smoky Shrew, Sorex fumeus, is a medium-sized North American shrew found in eastern Canada and the northeastern United States.It is dull grey in colour with lighter underparts and a long tail which is brown on top and yellowish underneath. During winter, its fur is grey...
(S. fumeus)- Sorex fumeus fumeus
- Sorex fumeus umbrosus
- Gaspé ShrewGaspé ShrewThe Gaspé Shrew is a North American shrew found on the Gaspé peninsula of Quebec, on Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia and in New Brunswick...
(S. gaspensis) - American Pygmy Shrew (S. hoyi)
- Sorex hoyi alnorum
- Sorex hoyi eximius
- Sorex hoyi hoyi
- Sorex hoyi montanus
- Sorex hoyi thompsoni
- Sorex hoyi winnemana
- Large-toothed ShrewLarge-toothed ShrewThe Large-toothed Shrew is a species of mammal in the Soricidae family. It is endemic to Mexico.-Source:* Baillie, J. 1996. . Downloaded on 30 July 2007....
(S. macrodon) - Carmen Mountain ShrewCarmen Mountain ShrewThe Carmen Mountain Shrew is a species of mammal in the Soricidae family. It is endemic to Mexico.-References:* George, S. 1996. . Downloaded on 30 July 2007....
(S. milleri) - Dwarf ShrewDwarf ShrewThe Dwarf Shrew is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is endemic to Arizona, Colorado, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming in the United States....
(S. nanus) - Mexican Long-tailed ShrewMexican Long-tailed ShrewThe Mexican Long-tailed Shrew is a species of mammal in the Soricidae family. It is endemic to Mexico.-Source:* Baillie, J. 1996. . Downloaded on 30 July 2007....
(S. oreopolus) - Orizaba Long-tailed ShrewOrizaba Long-tailed ShrewThe Orizaba Long-tailed Shrew is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is found in the states of Federal District, México, Michoacán, Morelos, Puebla, Tlaxcala, and Veracruz in Mexico....
(S. orizabae) - Ornate ShrewOrnate ShrewThe Ornate Shrew, Sorex ornatus, is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is endemic to Baja California in Mexico and California in the United States. The Tule Shrew is a likely extinct subspecies; it is only known by four specimens collected in 1905. Other subspecies include the "Suisun...
(S. ornatus)- Sorex ornatus juncensisTule ShrewThe Tule Shrew is a possibly extinct subspecies of the Ornate Shrew . It was confined to the Baja California peninsula in Mexico.-Description:...
- Sorex ornatus lagunae
- Sorex ornatus ornatus
- Sorex ornatus relictus
- Sorex ornatus salarius
- Sorex ornatus salicornicus
- Sorex ornatus sinuosus
- Sorex ornatus willetti
- Sorex ornatus juncensis
- Inyo ShrewInyo ShrewThe Inyo Shrew is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is endemic to California and Nevada in the United States....
(S. tenellus) - Verapaz ShrewVerapaz ShrewThe Verapaz Shrew is a species of mammal in the Soricidae family. It is found in Guatemala and Mexico.-References:* Insectivore Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 30 July 2007....
(S. veraepacis)- Sorex veraepacis chiapensis
- Sorex veraepacis mutabilis
- Sorex veraepacis veraepacis
- Sorex ixtlanensis
- S. vagrans complex
- Glacier Bay Water ShrewGlacier Bay Water ShrewThe Glacier Bay Water Shrew is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is endemic to Alaska in the United States. It can swim underwater, and when it stops swimming, air trapped in its fur lets it float back up to the surface. Due to small hairs on its feet, the water shrew can actually...
(S. alaskanus) - Baird's ShrewBaird's ShrewBaird's Shrew is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is endemic to northwest Oregon. Baird's Shrew inhabits moist conifer forests....
(S. bairdi)- Sorex bairdi bairdi
- Sorex bairdi permiliensis
- Marsh ShrewMarsh ShrewThe Marsh Shrew , also known as the Pacific Water Shrew, is a large North American shrew found near aquatic habitats, the largest member of genus Sorex in North America...
(S. bendirii)- Sorex bendirii albiventer
- Sorex bendirii bendirii
- Sorex bendirii palmeri
- Montane ShrewMontane ShrewThe Montane Shrew is a species of mammal in the Soricidae family. It is found in Alaska, western Canada, the western United States and Mexico....
(S. monticolus)- Sorex monticolus alascensis
- Sorex monticolus calvertensis
- Sorex monticolus elassodon
- Sorex monticolus insularis
- Sorex monticolus isolatus
- Sorex monticolus longicaudus
- Sorex monticolus malitiosus
- Sorex monticolus obscurus
- Sorex monticolus parvidens
- Sorex monticolus prevostensis
- Sorex monticolus setosus
- Sorex monticolus shumaginensis
- Sorex monticolus soperi
- New Mexico ShrewNew Mexico ShrewThe New Mexico Shrew is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is found only in New Mexico in the Capitan, Manzano, and Sandia Mountains. Its total length is 103 to 121 millimeters. Its tail length is 39 to 54 millimeters. It weighs 6 to 8 grams. It was included in Sorex monticolus until...
(S. neomexicanus) - Pacific ShrewPacific ShrewThe Pacific Shrew is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is endemic to western Oregon in the United States....
(S. pacificus)- Sorex pacificus pacificus
- Sorex pacificus cascadensis
- American Water ShrewAmerican Water ShrewThe American Water Shrew or Northern Water Shrew, is a large North American shrew found in aquatic habitats. Some sources include the Glacier Bay Water Shrew, S. alaskanus, within this species....
(S. palustris)- Sorex palustris albibarbis
- Sorex palustris brooksi
- Sorex palustris gloveralleni
- Sorex palustris hydrobadistes
- Sorex palustris labradorensis
- Sorex palustris navigator
- Sorex palustris palustris
- Sorex palustris punctulatus
- Sorex palustris turneri
- Fog ShrewFog ShrewThe Fog Shrew is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is endemic to the northern California and Oregon in the United States....
(S. sonomae)- Sorex sonomae sonomae
- Sorex sonomae tenelliodus
- Vagrant ShrewVagrant ShrewThe Vagrant Shrew is a medium-sized North American shrew. At one time, the Montane Shrew was considered to belong to the same species as this animal....
(S. vagrans)- Sorex vagrans halicoetes
- Sorex vagrans paludivagus
- Sorex vagrans vagrans
- Glacier Bay Water Shrew
- S. cinereus group
- Kamchatka ShrewKamchatka ShrewThe Kamchatka Shrew is a species of mammal in the Soricidae family. It is endemic to Russia.-References:* Insectivore Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 30 July 2007....
(S. camtschatica) - Cinereus Shrew (S. cinereus)
- Sorex cinereus acadicus
- Sorex cinereus cinereus
- Sorex cinereus fontinalis
- Sorex cinereus hollisteri
- Sorex cinereus lesueurii
- Sorex cinereus miscix
- Sorex cinereus ohioensis
- Sorex cinereus streatori
- Prairie ShrewPrairie ShrewThe Prairie Shrew is a small shrew found in the Canadian prairies and midwestern United States. At one time, this species was considered to be a subspecies of the similar Cinereus Shrew, S. cinereus....
(S. haydeni) - Saint Lawrence Island ShrewSaint Lawrence Island ShrewThe Saint Lawrence Island Shrew is a species of mammal in the Soricidae family. It is found only on Alaska's St. Lawrence Island....
(S. jacksoni) - Paramushir ShrewParamushir ShrewThe Paramushir Shrew is a species of mammal in the Soricidae family. It is endemic to Russia. Its natural habitat is temperate forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:...
(S. leucogaster) - Southeastern ShrewSoutheastern ShrewThe Southeastern Shrew is a species of mammal in the Soricidae family. It is found in the southeastern United States....
(S. longirostris) - Mount Lyell ShrewMount Lyell ShrewThe Mount Lyell Shrew is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is endemic to a small area in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California in the United States....
(S. lyelli) - Portenko's ShrewPortenko's ShrewPortenko's Shrew is a species of mammal in the Soricidae family. It is endemic to Russia.-References:* Insectivore Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 30 July 2007....
(S. portenkoi) - Preble's ShrewPreble's ShrewPreble's Shrew is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is endemic to southern British Columbia in Canada and the western United States....
(S. preblei) - Pribilof Island ShrewPribilof Island ShrewThe Pribilof Island Shrew is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is found only on Alaska's Pribilof Islands.-Further reading:* http://aknhp.uaa.alaska.edu/zoology/pdfs/mammals/Priblof%20Shrew.pdf...
(S. pribilofensis) - Olympic Shrew, Sorex rohweri
- Barren Ground ShrewBarren Ground ShrewThe Barren Ground Shrew is a small shrew found in northern Canada west of Hudson Bay and in Alaska. At one time, this species was considered to be a subspecies of the similar Cinereus Shrew . It is similar in appearance and thought to be closely related to the Saint Lawrence Island Shrew and...
(S. ugyunak)
- Kamchatka Shrew
- Long-tailed Shrew
- Subgenus Sorex
- Dneper Common Shrew (S. averini)
- Lesser Striped ShrewLesser Striped ShrewThe Lesser Striped Shrew is a species of mammal in the Soricidae family. It is found in China, Myanmar, and Nepal.-References:* Insectivore Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 30 July 2007....
(S. bedfordiae) - Stripe-backed Shrew (S. cylindricauda)
- Chinese Highland ShrewChinese Highland ShrewThe Chinese Highland Shrew is a species of shrew in the Soricidae family. It is found in China....
(S. excelsus) - Azumi ShrewAzumi ShrewThe Azumi Shrew is a species of mammal in the Soricidae family. It is endemic to Japan. It is threatened by habitat loss.-References:* Insectivore Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 30 July 2007....
(S. hosonoi) - Chinese ShrewChinese ShrewThe Chinese Shrew or Dusky Shrew is a species of mammal in the Soricidae family. It is endemic to China. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests. It is threatened by habitat loss....
(S. sinalis) - Alaska Tiny ShrewAlaska Tiny ShrewThe Alaska Tiny Shrew is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is found only in Alaska....
(S. yukonicus) - S. alpinus group
- Alpine ShrewAlpine ShrewThe Alpine Shrew is a species of mammal in the Soricidae family. It is found in Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Liechtenstein, the Republic of Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and...
(S. alpinus) - Ussuri ShrewUssuri ShrewThe Ussuri Shrew , also known as the Giant Shrew, is a species of shrew found in Northeast Asia. An adult Ussuri Shrew has a body length of 7.4-9.4 cm, with a tail of 6.3-7.1 cm. It is found on the rocky slopes of mountains in the Korean Peninsula, northeastern China, and the Russian Far East...
(S. mirabilis)
- Alpine Shrew
- S. araneus group
- Valais ShrewValais ShrewThe Valais Shrew is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is found in all of Italy except southern Apulia, in southeastern France, and in southern Switzerland....
(S. antinorii) - Common ShrewCommon ShrewThe 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...
(S. araneus) - Udine ShrewUdine ShrewThe Udine Shrew is a species of mammal in the Soricidae family. It is found in the Udine province of north-east Italy and in western Slovenia.-References:...
(S. arunchi) - Crowned ShrewCrowned ShrewThe Crowned Shrew or Millet's Shrew is a species of mammal in the Soricidae family. It is found in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Liechtenstein, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.-References:...
(S. coronatus) - Siberian Large-toothed ShrewSiberian Large-toothed ShrewThe Siberian Large-toothed Shrew is a species of shrew. An adult Siberian Large-toothed Shrew has a weight of 4.6-6.0 grams and a body length of 5.5-6.4 centimeters, with a tail of 2.4-3.75 centimeters...
(S. daphaenodon)- Sorex daphaenodon daphaenodon
- Sorex daphaenodon sanguinidens
- Sorex daphaenodon scaloni
- Iberian ShrewIberian ShrewThe Iberian Shrew or Lagranja Shrew is a species of mammal in the Soricidae family. It is found in Portugal and Spain.-References:* Insectivore Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded 30 July 2007....
(S. granarius) - Caucasian ShrewCaucasian ShrewThe Caucasian Shrew is a species of mammal in the Soricidae family. It is found in Russia and Turkey.-References:* Insectivore Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 30 July 2007....
(S. satunini)
- Valais Shrew
- S. arcticus group
- Arctic ShrewArctic ShrewThe Arctic Shrew , also known as the Blackback Shrew or Saddlebacked Shrew, is a medium-sized shrew found in Canada and the northern United States. Separate species status has been proposed for the Maritime Shrew which is found in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia and had been considered to be a...
(S. arcticus)- Sorex arcticus arcticus
- Sorex arcticus laricorum
- Maritime ShrewMaritime ShrewThe Maritime Shrew is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is found in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia in Canada....
(S. maritimensis)
- Arctic Shrew
- S. tundrensis
- Tien Shan ShrewTien Shan ShrewThe Tien Shan Shrew is a species of mammal in the Soricidae family. It is found in China and Kazakhstan.-References:* Insectivore Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 30 July 2007....
(S. asper) - Gansu ShrewGansu ShrewThe Gansu Shrew is a red-toothed shrew found only in the Gansu province, China. It is listed as a critically endangered species due to habitat loss and a restricted range....
(S. cansulus) - Tundra ShrewTundra ShrewThe Tundra Shrew is a small shrew found in Alaska, the northern Yukon Territory, the MacKenzie Delta region of the Northwest Territories, extreme northwestern British Columbia and eastern Russia...
(S. tundrensis)
- Tien Shan Shrew
- S. minutus group
- Buchara ShrewBuchara ShrewThe Buchara Shrew is a species of mammal in the Soricidae family. It is endemic to Tajikistan....
(S. buchariensis) - Kozlov's ShrewKozlov's ShrewKozlov's Shrew is a red-toothed shrew found only at the Mekong River, Tibet, China. This shrew listed as a "data deficient"....
(S. kozlovi) - Caucasian Pygmy ShrewCaucasian Pygmy ShrewThe Caucasian Pygmy Shrew or Ukrainian Shrew is a species of mammal in the Soricidae family. It is found in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia , Russia, Ukraine, possibly Iran , and possibly Turkey....
(S. volnuchini)- Sorex volnuchini dahli
- Sorex volnuchini volnuchini
- Buchara Shrew
- S. caecutiens group
- Laxmann's ShrewLaxmann's ShrewLaxmann's Shrew is a species of shrew. An adult Laxmann's Shrew has a weight of 3-11 grams and a body length of 4.8-7.8 cm, with a tail of 3.9-5.2 cm. It is reported across northern Eurasia from the Baltic to the Sea of Japan, including Hokkaidō, Sakhalin, and the Korean Peninsula...
(S. caecutiens) - Taiga ShrewTaiga ShrewThe Taiga Shrew , also known as the Even-toothed Shrew can achieve a body length of about 67 millimeters, with a tail of about 43 millimeters. This shrew is very similar to the Long-Clawed Shrew. This species inhabits forested mountain valleys, and is found across northern Eurasia...
(S. isodon) - Eurasian Least ShrewEurasian Least ShrewThe Eurasian Least Shrew , also called the Lesser Pygmy Shrew, is the second-smallest mammal in the world after the Etruscan Shrew.- Appearance :...
(S. minutissimus) - Eurasian Pygmy ShrewEurasian pygmy shrewThe Eurasian Pygmy Shrew , often known simply as the Pygmy Shrew, is a widespread shrew of northern Eurasia. It is the only shrew native to Ireland....
(S. minutus) - Flat-skulled ShrewFlat-skulled ShrewThe Flat-skulled Shrew is a species of mammal in the Soricidae family. It is found in Mongolia, China and Russia....
(S. roboratus) - Shinto ShrewShinto ShrewThe Shinto Shrew is a species of mammal in the Soricidae family. It is endemic to Japan.-References:* Insectivore Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 30 July 2007....
(S. shinto)- Sorex shinto sadonis
- Sorex shinto shikokensis
- Sorex shinto shinto
- Long-clawed ShrewLong-clawed ShrewThe Long-Clawed Shrew is a species of shrew. An adult Long-Clawed Shrew has a weight of less than 20 g and a body length of 54-97 mm, with a tail of 40-53 mm. It is distributed through the uplands of northeastern Asia, including northeastern North Korea....
(S. unguiculatus)
- Laxmann's Shrew
- S. gracillimus group
- Slender ShrewSlender ShrewThe Slender Shrew is a species of shrew. An adult Slender Shrew has a weight of 1.5-5.3 grams and a body length of 4.7-6.0 centimeters, with a tail of 4-5 centimeters; this makes it one of the smaller shrews found in its range. It is distributed across northeastern North Korea, Hokkaidō, and the...
(S. gracillimus)
- Slender Shrew
- S. raddei
- Radde's ShrewRadde's ShrewRadde's Shrew is a species of mammal in the Soricidae family. It is found in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russia, and Turkey.-References:* Insectivore Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 30 July 2007....
(S. raddei)
- Radde's Shrew
- S. samniticus
- Apennine ShrewApennine ShrewThe Apennine Shrew is a species of mammal in the Soricidae family. It is endemic to Italy.-References:* Insectivore Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 30 July 2007....
(S. samniticus)
- Apennine Shrew
- Subgenus incertae sedisIncertae sedis, is a term used to define a taxonomic group where its broader relationships are unknown or undefined. Uncertainty at specific taxonomic levels is attributed by , , and similar terms.-Examples:*The fossil plant Paradinandra suecica could not be assigned to any...
- Arizona ShrewArizona ShrewThe Arizona Shrew is a species of mammal in the Soricidae family. It is found in Chihuahua in Mexico and in Arizona and New Mexico in the United States....
(S. arizonae) - Zacatecas ShrewZacatecas ShrewThe Zacatecas Shrew is a species of mammal in the Soricidae family. It is endemic to Mexico.-References:* Insectivore Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 30 July 2007....
(S. emarginatus) - Merriam's ShrewMerriam's ShrewMerriam's Shrew is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is endemic to the western United States and southern British Columbia in Canada....
(S. merriami) - Saussure's ShrewSaussure's ShrewSaussure's Shrew is a species of mammal in the Soricidae family. It is found in Guatemala and Mexico.-References:* Insectivore Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 30 July 2007....
(S. saussurei)- Sorex saussurei godmani
- Sorex saussurei saussurei
- Sclater's ShrewSclater's ShrewSclater's Shrew is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is endemic to Mexico.-Source:* Cuarón, A.D. & de Grammont, P.C. 2008. . Downloaded on 25 February 2009....
(S. sclateri) - San Cristobal ShrewSan Cristobal ShrewThe San Cristobal Shrew is a species of mammal in the Soricidae family. It is endemic to Mexico.-Source:* Cuarón, A.D., de Grammont, P.C., Matson, J. & Woodman, N. 2008. . Downloaded on 25 February 2009....
(S. stizodon) - Trowbridge's ShrewTrowbridge's ShrewTrowbridge's Shrew is a species of mammal in the Soricidae family. It is found in southern British Columbia in Canada and in Washington, Oregon, and California in the United States....
(S. trowbridgii)- Sorex trowbridgii destructioni
- Sorex trowbridgii humboldtensis
- Sorex trowbridgii mariposae
- Sorex trowbridgii montereyensis
- Sorex trowbridgii trowbridgii
- Chestnut-bellied ShrewChestnut-bellied ShrewThe Chestnut-bellied Shrew is a species of mammal in the Soricidae family. It is endemic to Mexico.-References:* Insectivore Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 30 July 2007....
(S. ventralis) - Veracruz ShrewVeracruz ShrewThe Veracruz Shrew is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is found in Mexico....
(S. veraecrucis)- Sorex veraecrucis cristobalensis
- Sorex veraecrucis oaxacae
- Sorex veraecrucis veraecrucis
- Arizona Shrew
- Kashmir Pygmy Shrew