Jump to content

Shrew: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
m →Characteristics: link added
→Characteristics: changed don’t —> do not twice
Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit
 
(275 intermediate revisions by more than 100 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|Family of mammals}}
{{other uses|Shrew (disambiguation)}}
{{Other uses|Shrew (disambiguation)}}
{{Taxobox
{{Automatic taxobox
| name = Shrews<ref name="msw3">{{MSW3 Hutterer | pages = 223–300}}</ref>
| name = Shrews<ref name="msw3">{{MSW3 Hutterer | pages = 223–300 | name-list-style = vanc }}</ref>
| fossil_range = {{Fossil range|Middle Eocene|Recent}}
| fossil_range = {{Fossil range|Middle Eocene|Recent}}
| image = Southern short-tailed shrew.jpg
| image = 4_shrews.jpg
| image_caption = A [[southern short-tailed shrew]]
| image_caption =
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| taxon = Soricidae
⚫
| authority = [[Gotthelf Fischer von Waldheim|G. Fischer]], 1814
| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]]
| classis = [[Mammal]]ia
| type_genus = ''[[Sorex]]''
| type_species_authority = [[Carl Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], 1758
|infraclassis = [[Eutheria]]
⚫
| subdivision_ranks = Subfamilies
| ordo = [[Eulipotyphla]]
| familia = '''Soricidae'''
⚫
| familia_authority = [[Gotthelf Fischer von Waldheim|G. Fischer]], 1814
⚫
| subdivision_ranks = [[Subfamily|Subfamilies]]
| subdivision =
| subdivision =
*[[Crocidurinae]]
*[[Crocidurinae]]
Line 18: Line 16:
*[[Soricinae]]
*[[Soricinae]]
}}
}}
⚫
A '''shrew''' or '''shrew mouse''' ([[Family (biology)|family]] '''Soricidae''') is a small [[Mole (animal)|mole]]-like [[mammal]] classified in the [[Order (biology)|order]] [[Soricomorpha]]. True shrews are also not to be confused with [[West Indies shrews]], [[treeshrew]]s, [[otter shrew]]s, or [[elephant shrew]]s, which belong to different families or orders.


⚫
'''Shrews''' ([[Family (biology)|family]] '''Soricidae''') are small [[Mole (animal)|mole]]-like [[mammals]] classified in the [[Order (biology)|order]] [[Eulipotyphla]]. True shrews are not to be confused with [[treeshrew]]s, [[otter shrew]]s, [[elephant shrew]]s, [[West Indies shrew]]s, or [[marsupial shrew]]s, which belong to different families or orders.
⚫
Although its external appearance is generally that of a long-nosed mouse, a shrew is not a [[rodent]], as mice are. It is in fact a much closer relative of moles, and related to rodents only in that both belong to the [[Boreoeutheria]] [[Magnorder]]. Shrews have sharp, spike-like teeth, not the familiar gnawing front incisor teeth of rodents.


⚫
Although its external appearance is generally that of a long-nosed mouse, a shrew is not a [[rodent]], as mice are. It is, in fact, a much closer relative of [[hedgehogs]] and moles; shrews are related to rodents only in that both belong to the [[Boreoeutheria]] [[magnorder]]. Shrews have sharp, spike-like teeth, whereas rodents have gnawing front incisor teeth.
⚫
Shrews are [[cosmopolitan distribution|distributed almost worldwide]]: of the major tropical and temperate land masses, only [[New Guinea]], [[Australia]], and [[New Zealand]] do not have any native shrews; in [[South America]], shrews are [[Great American Interchange|relatively recent immigrants]] and are present only in the northern [[Andes]]. In terms of species diversity, the shrew family is the fourth most successful mammal family, being rivalled only by the [[Muroidea|muroid rodent]] families [[Muridae]] and [[Cricetidae]] and the [[bat]] family [[Vespertilionidae]].

⚫
Shrews are [[cosmopolitan distribution|distributed almost worldwide]]. Among the major tropical and temperate land masses, only [[New Guinea]], [[Australia]], [[New Zealand]], and [[South America]] have no native shrews. However, as a result of the [[Great American Interchange]], [[South America]] does have a relatively recently [[Naturalisation (biology)|naturalised]] population, present only in the northern [[Andes]].

The shrew family has 385 known species, making it the fourth-most species-diverse mammal family. The only mammal families with more species are the [[Muroidea|muroid rodent]] families ([[Muridae]] and [[Cricetidae]]) and the [[bat]] family [[Vespertilionidae]].


==Characteristics==
==Characteristics==
All shrews are comparatively small, most no larger than a mouse. The largest species is the [[Asian house shrew]] (''Suncus murinus'') of tropical [[Asia]], which is about 15&nbsp;cm long and weighs around 100&nbsp;g;<ref>Louch, C.D.; Ghosh, A.K. & Pal, B.C. (1966). "Seasonal Changes in Weight and Reproductive Activity of Suncus murinus in West Bengal, India". Journal of Mammalogy 47 (1): 73–78. JSTOR 1378070</ref> several are very small, notably the [[Etruscan shrew]] (''Suncus etruscus''), which at about {{convert|3.5|cm|abbr=on}} and {{convert|2|g|abbr=on}} is the smallest living terrestrial mammal.
All shrews are tiny, most no larger than a mouse. The largest species is the [[Asian house shrew]] (''Suncus murinus'') of tropical Asia, which is about {{convert|15|cm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long and weighs around {{convert|100|g|oz|frac=2|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Louch CD, Ghosh AK, Pal BC | date = 1966 | title = Seasonal Changes in Weight and Reproductive Activity of Suncus murinus in West Bengal, India | journal = Journal of Mammalogy | volume = 47 | issue = 1 | pages = 73–78 | doi = 10.2307/1378070 | jstor = 1378070 | pmid = 5905563 }}</ref> The [[Etruscan shrew]] (''Suncus etruscus''), at about {{convert|3.5|cm|in|frac=8|abbr=on}} and {{convert|1.8|g|gr|0|abbr=off}}, is the smallest known living terrestrial mammal.
[[File:Watershrewskeleton.jpg|left|thumb|Water shrew skeleton]]
[[File:Watershrewskeleton.jpg|left|thumb|Water shrew skeleton]]
In general, shrews are terrestrial creatures that forage for seeds, insects, nuts, worms, and a variety of other foods in leaf litter and dense vegetation, but some specialise in climbing trees, living underground, living [[Subnivean|under snow]], or even hunting in water. They have small eyes and generally poor [[Visual perception|vision]], but have excellent senses of [[hearing (sense)|hearing]] and [[olfaction|smell]].<ref name=EoM>{{cite book |editor=Macdonald, D.|author= Barnard, Christopher J.|year=1984 |title= The Encyclopedia of Mammals|publisher= Facts on File|location=New York|pages= 758–763|isbn= 0-87196-871-1}}</ref> They are very active animals, with voracious appetites. Shrews have unusually high [[metabolic rate]]s, above that expected in comparable small mammals.<ref>William, J.; Platt, W. J. (1974). "Metabolic Rates of Short-Tailed Shrews". ''Physiological Zoology'' , 47: 2, 75–90. [http://www.jstor.org/stable/30155625 JStore]</ref> Shrews in captivity can eat 1/2 to 2 times their own body weight in food daily.<ref>Reid, F. (2009). "A Field Guide to the Mammals of Central America and Southeast Mexico". p. 63-64. [http://books.google.com.br/books/about/A_Field_Guide_to_the_Mammals_of_Central.html]</ref>
In general, shrews are terrestrial creatures that forage for seeds, insects, nuts, worms, and a variety of other foods in [[leaf litter]] and dense vegetation e.g. [[grass]], but some specialise in climbing trees, living underground, living [[Subnivean|under snow]], or even hunting in water. They have small eyes and generally poor [[Visual perception|vision]], but have excellent senses of [[hearing (sense)|hearing]] and [[olfaction|smell]].<ref name=EoM>{{cite book|veditors= Macdonald DW|vauthors= Barnard CJ|year= 1984|title= The Encyclopedia of Mammals|publisher= Facts on File|location= New York|pages= [https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofma00mals_0/page/758 758–763]|isbn= 0-87196-871-1|url-access= registration|url= https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofma00mals_0/page/758}}</ref> They are very active animals, with voracious appetites. Shrews have unusually high [[metabolic rate]]s, above that expected in comparable small mammals.<ref>{{cite journal|vauthors=William J, Platt WJ|date=1974|title=Metabolic Rates of Short-Tailed Shrews|journal=Physiological Zoology|volume=47|issue=2|pages=75–90|doi=10.1086/physzool.47.2.30155625|jstor=30155625|s2cid=87675441}}</ref> For this reason, they need to eat almost constantly like [[Mole (animal)|moles]]. Shrews in captivity can eat {{frac|1|2}} to 2 times their own body weight in food daily.<ref>{{cite book | vauthors = Reid F | date = 2009 | title = A Field Guide to the Mammals of Central America and Southeast Mexico | pages = 63–64 }}</ref>


They do not [[Hibernation|hibernate]], but are capable of entering [[torpor]]. In winter, many species undergo [[Morphology (biology)|morphological]] changes that drastically reduce their body weight. Shrews can lose between 30% and 50% of their body weight, shrinking the size of bones, skull, and internal organs.<ref>{{Cite journal | url = http://books.google.com/books?id=z-XJ-UzdwIgC&pg=PA44&lpg=PA44&dq=seasonal+weight+changes+overwintering | title = The natural history of shrews | isbn = 978-0-8014-2595-0 | author1 = Churchfield | first1 = Sara | date = January 1990}}</ref>
They do not [[Hibernation|hibernate]], but some species are capable of entering [[torpor]]. In winter, many species undergo [[Morphology (biology)|morphological]] changes that drastically reduce their body weight. Shrews can lose between 30% and 50% of their body weight, shrinking the size of bones, skull, and internal organs.<ref>{{Cite book | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=z-XJ-UzdwIgC&q=seasonal+weight+changes+overwintering&pg=PA44 | title = The natural history of shrews | isbn = 978-0-8014-2595-0 | last1 = Churchfield | first1 = Sara | name-list-style = vanc | date = January 1990| publisher = Cornell University Press }}</ref>


Whereas rodents have gnawing [[incisor]]s that grow throughout life, the teeth of shrews wear down throughout life, a problem made more extreme because they lose their [[milk teeth]] before birth, so have only one set of teeth throughout their lifetimes. Apart from the first pair of incisors, which are long and sharp, and the chewing [[Molar (tooth)|molar]]s at the back of the mouth, the teeth of shrews are small and peg-like, and may be reduced in number. The [[Dentition#Dental formula|dental formula]] of shrews is:{{DentalFormula|upper=3.1.1-3.3|lower=1-2.0-1.1.3}}
Whereas rodents have gnawing [[incisor]]s that grow throughout life, the teeth of shrews wear down throughout life, a problem made more extreme because they lose their [[milk teeth]] before birth, so have only one set of teeth throughout their lifetimes. In some species, exposed areas of the teeth are dark red due to the presence of iron in the tooth enamel. The iron reinforces the surfaces that are exposed to the most stress, which helps prolong the life of the teeth. This adaptation is not found in species with lower metabolism, which do not have to eat as much and therefore do not wear down the enamel to the same degree. The only other mammals' teeth with pigmented enamel are the incisors of rodents.<ref>{{cite web | first = John | last = Wible | name-list-style = vanc | url = https://carnegiemnh.org/shrews-dark-red-teeth/ | title = Why Do Some Shrews Have Dark Red Teeth? | date = 6 February 2018 | publisher = Carnegie Museum }}</ref> Apart from the first pair of incisors, which are long and sharp, and the chewing [[Molar (tooth)|molar]]s at the back of the mouth, the teeth of shrews are small and peg-like, and may be reduced in number. The [[Dentition#Dental formula|dental formula]] of shrews is:{{DentalFormula|upper=3.1.1-3.3|lower=1-2.0-1.1.3}}


Shrews are fiercely territorial, driving off rivals, and only coming together to mate. Many species dig [[burrow]]s for caching food and hiding from [[predator]]s, although this is not universal.<ref name=EoM/>
Shrews are fiercely territorial, driving off rivals, and coming together only to mate. Many species dig [[burrow]]s for catching food and hiding from [[predator]]s, although this is not universal.<ref name=EoM/>


Female shrews can have up to 10 litters a year; in the tropics, they breed all year round; in temperate zones, they only stop breeding in the winter. Shrews have [[gestation]] periods of 17–32 days. The female often becomes pregnant within a day or so of giving birth, and [[lactation|lactates]] during her pregnancy, [[weaning]] one litter as the next is born.<ref name=EoM/> Shrews live 12 to 30 months.<ref>{{cite book | last = Macdonald (Ed) | first = Professor David W. | title = The Encyclopedia of Mammals | publisher = Oxford University Press | year = 2006 | isbn = 0-19-920608-2}}</ref>
Female shrews can have up to 10 litters a year; in the tropics, they breed all year round; in temperate zones, they cease breeding only in the winter. Shrews have [[gestation]] periods of 17–32 days. The female often becomes pregnant within a day or so of giving birth, and [[lactation|lactates]] during her pregnancy, [[weaning]] one litter as the next is born.<ref name=EoM/> Shrews live 12 to 30 months.<ref>{{cite book | veditors = Macdonald DW | title = The Encyclopedia of Mammals | publisher = Oxford University Press | year = 2006 | isbn = 0-19-920608-2}}</ref>


A characteristic behaviour observed in many species of shrew is known as "caravanning". This is when a litter of young shrews form a line behind the mother, each gripping the shrew in front by the fur at the base of the tail.<ref>{{Citation |last=D'Agostino |first=Jennifer |title=Chapter 34 - Insectivores (Insectivora, Macroscelidea, Scandentia) |date=2015-01-01 |work=Fowler's Zoo and Wild Animal Medicine, Volume 8 |pages=275–281 |editor-last=Miller |editor-first=R. Eric |url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/B9781455773978000347 |access-date=2024-10-23 |place=St. Louis |publisher=W.B. Saunders |doi=10.1016/b978-1-4557-7397-8.00034-7 |isbn=978-1-4557-7397-8 |editor2-last=Fowler |editor2-first=Murray E.}}</ref>
⚫
Shrews are unusual among mammals in a number of respects. Unlike most mammals, some species of shrews are [[venom]]ous. Shrew venom is not conducted into the wound by fangs, but by grooves in the teeth. The venom contains various compounds, and the contents of the venom glands of the [[American short-tailed shrew]] are sufficient to kill 200 mice by intravenous injection. One chemical extracted from shrew venom may be potentially useful in the treatment of high blood pressure, while another compound may be useful in the treatment of some [[neuromuscular disease]]s and [[migraine]]s.<ref>[[Ross Piper|Piper, Ross]] (2007), ''Extraordinary Animals: An Encyclopedia of Curious and Unusual Animals'', [[Greenwood Press (publisher)|Greenwood Press]].</ref> The saliva of the [[northern short-tailed shrew]] (''Blarina brevicauda'') contains [[soricidin]], a [[peptide]] which has been studied for use in treating [[ovarian cancer]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.soricimed.com/news/bioprospecting-nb-inc%E2%80%99s-novel-ovarian-cancer-treatment-found-effective-animal-cancer-model | title = BioProspecting NB, Inc's novel ovarian cancer treatment found effective in animal cancer model. |accessdate = 23 May 2010 | date = 8 Apr 2009}}</ref> Also, along with the [[bat]]s and [[toothed whale]]s, some species of shrews use [[Animal echolocation|echolocation]]. Unlike most other mammals, shrews lack [[zygomatic bone]]s (also called the [[jugal]]s), so have incomplete [[zygomatic arch]]es.

⚫
Shrews are unusual among mammals in a number of respects. Unlike most mammals, some species of shrews are [[venom]]ous. Shrew venom is not conducted into the wound by [[fang]]s, but by grooves in the teeth. The venom contains various compounds, and the contents of the venom glands of the [[American short-tailed shrew]] are sufficient to kill 200 mice by intravenous injection. One chemical extracted from shrew venom may be potentially useful in the treatment of high blood pressure, while another compound may be useful in the treatment of some [[neuromuscular disease]]s and [[migraine]]s.<ref>{{cite book|title=Extraordinary Animals: An Encyclopedia of Curious and Unusual Animals|first=Ross|last=Piper|publisher=[[Greenwood Press (publisher)|Greenwood Press]]|date=30 August 2007|isbn=978-0313339226}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=September 2020}} The saliva of the [[northern short-tailed shrew]] (''Blarina brevicauda'') contains [[soricidin]], a [[peptide]] which has been studied for use in treating [[ovarian cancer]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.soricimed.com/news/bioprospecting-nb-inc%E2%80%99s-novel-ovarian-cancer-treatment-found-effective-animal-cancer-model | title = BioProspecting NB, Inc's novel ovarian cancer treatment found effective in animal cancer model. | access-date = 23 May 2010 | date = 8 Apr 2009 | archive-date = 16 July 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110716105212/http://www.soricimed.com/news/bioprospecting-nb-inc%E2%80%99s-novel-ovarian-cancer-treatment-found-effective-animal-cancer-model | url-status = dead }}</ref> Also, along with the [[bat]]s and [[toothed whale]]s, some species of shrews use [[Animal echolocation|echolocation]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Chai|first1=Simin|last2=Tian|first2=Ran|last3=Rong|first3=Xinghua|last4=Li|first4=Guiting|last5=Chen|first5=Bingyao|last6=Ren|first6=Wenhua|last7=Xu|first7=Shixia|last8=Yang|first8=Guang|date=2020-02-25|title=Evidence of Echolocation in the Common Shrew from Molecular Convergence with Other Echolocating Mammals|journal=Zoological Studies|volume=59|issue=59 |pages=e4|doi=10.6620/ZS.2020.59-04|issn=1021-5506|pmc=7262541|pmid=32494297|s2cid=215414310}}</ref> Unlike most other mammals, shrews lack [[zygomatic bone]]s (also called the [[jugal]]s), so have incomplete [[zygomatic arch]]es.<ref>{{Cite news|title=About the mammalian skull, and be able to define and/or identify on a specimen all underlined terms.|url=https://www.d.umn.edu/~rmoen/Mammalogy_4764_2009/Handouts/Lab_01_Skull.pdf}}</ref>


===Echolocation===
===Echolocation===
[[File:NShortTailedShrew23.jpg|thumb|right|The [[northern short-tailed shrew]] is known to [[Animal echolocation|echolocate]].]]
[[File:NShortTailedShrew23.jpg|thumb|right|The [[northern short-tailed shrew]] is known to [[Animal echolocation|echolocate]].]]
The only terrestrial mammals known to echolocate are two genera (''[[Sorex]]'' and ''[[Blarina]]'') of shrews, the [[tenrec]]s of [[Madagascar]], and the [[solenodon]]s.{{citation needed|date=December 2014}} These include the [[Common Shrew|Eurasian or common shrew]] (''Sorex araneus'') and the American [[vagrant shrew]] (''Sorex vagrans'') and [[northern short-tailed shrew]] (''Blarina brevicauda''). These shrews emit series of ultrasonic squeaks.<ref>{{cite journal |jstor=1380190 |pages=751–9 |last1=Tomasi |first1=T. E. |title=Echolocation by the Short-Tailed Shrew Blarina brevicauda |volume=60 |issue=4 |journal=Journal of Mammalogy |year=1979 |doi=10.2307/1380190}}</ref><ref name="Siemers">{{Cite journal | last1 = Siemers | first1 = B. M. | last2 = Schauermann | first2 = G. | last3 = Turni | first3 = H. | last4 = Von Merten | first4 = S. | title = Why do shrews twitter? Communication or simple echo-based orientation | doi = 10.1098/rsbl.2009.0378 | journal = Biology Letters | volume = 5 | issue = 5 | pages = 593–596 | year = 2009 | pmid = 19535367| pmc =2781971 }}</ref> The nature of shrew sounds, unlike those of bats, are low-amplitude, broadband, multiharmonic, and frequency modulated.<ref name="Siemers"/> They contain no "echolocation clicks" with [[reverberation]]s and would seem to be used for simple, close-range spatial orientation. In contrast to bats, shrews use echolocation only to investigate their habitats rather than additionally to pinpoint food.<ref name="Siemers"/> <blockquote>
The only terrestrial mammals known to [[Animal echolocation|echolocate]] are two genera (''[[Sorex]]'' and ''[[Blarina]]'') of shrews, the [[tenrec]]s of [[Madagascar]], [[bat]]s, and the [[solenodon]]s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What is echolocation and which animals use it? |url=https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/what-is-echolocation/ |access-date=2022-03-25 |website=Discover Wildlife |language=en}}</ref> These include the [[Common Shrew|Eurasian or common shrew]] (''Sorex araneus'') and the American [[vagrant shrew]] (''Sorex vagrans'') and [[northern short-tailed shrew]] (''Blarina brevicauda''). These shrews emit series of ultrasonic squeaks.<ref>{{cite journal |jstor=1380190 |pages=751–9 | vauthors = Tomasi TE |title=Echolocation by the Short-Tailed Shrew Blarina brevicauda |volume=60 |issue=4 |journal=Journal of Mammalogy |year=1979 |doi=10.2307/1380190}}</ref><ref name="Siemers">{{cite journal | vauthors = Siemers BM, Schauermann G, Turni H, von Merten S | title = Why do shrews twitter? Communication or simple echo-based orientation | journal = Biology Letters | volume = 5 | issue = 5 | pages = 593–6 | date = October 2009 | pmid = 19535367 | pmc = 2781971 | doi = 10.1098/rsbl.2009.0378 }}</ref> By nature the shrew sounds, unlike those of bats, are low-amplitude, broadband, multiharmonic, and frequency modulated.<ref name="Siemers"/> They contain no "echolocation clicks" with [[reverberation]]s and would seem to be used for simple, close-range spatial orientation. In contrast to bats, shrews use echolocation only to investigate their habitats rather than additionally to pinpoint food.<ref name="Siemers"/> <blockquote>
Except for large and thus strongly reflecting objects, such as a big stone or tree trunk, they probably are not able to disentangle echo scenes, but rather derive information on habitat type from the overall call reverberations. This might be comparable to human hearing whether one calls into a beech forest or into a reverberant wine cellar.<ref name="Siemers"/>
Except for large and thus strongly reflecting objects, such as a big stone or tree trunk, they probably are not able to disentangle echo scenes, but rather derive information on habitat type from the overall call reverberations. This might be comparable to human hearing whether one calls into a beech forest or into a reverberant wine cellar.<ref name="Siemers"/>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>


==Classification==
==Classification==
{{further|List of crocidurines|List of myosoricines|List of soricines}}
The 385 shrew species are in 26 genera,<ref>{{cite journal| author=Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M.| title=Class Mammalia Linnaeus, 1758. In: Zhang, Z.-Q. (ed.) Animal biodiversity: An outline of higher-level classification and survey of taxonomic richness | journal=Zootaxa| volume=3148| year=2011| pages=56–60| url=http://mapress.com/zootaxa/2011/f/zt03148p060.pdf}}</ref> which are grouped into three living subfamilies: Crocidurinae ([[white-toothed shrew]]s), [[Myosoricinae]] (African shrews) and Soricinae ([[red-toothed shrew]]s). In addition, the family contains the extinct subfamilies [[Limnoecinae]], [[Crocidosoricinae]], [[Allosoricinae]] and [[Heterosoricinae]] (although Heterosoricinae is also commonly considered a separate family).
The 385 shrew species are placed in 26 genera,<ref>{{cite journal| vauthors = Wilson DE, Reeder DM | title=Class Mammalia Linnaeus, 1758. In: Zhang, Z.-Q. (ed.) Animal biodiversity: An outline of higher-level classification and survey of taxonomic richness | journal=Zootaxa| volume=3148| year=2011| pages=56–60| url=http://mapress.com/zootaxa/2011/f/zt03148p060.pdf|doi=10.11646/zootaxa.3148.1.9 }}</ref> which are grouped into three living subfamilies: Crocidurinae ([[white-toothed shrew]]s), [[Myosoricinae]] (African shrews), and Soricinae ([[red-toothed shrew]]s). In addition, the family contains the extinct subfamilies [[Limnoecinae]], [[Crocidosoricinae]], [[Allosoricinae]], and [[Heterosoricinae]] (although Heterosoricinae is also commonly considered a separate family).


*'''Family Soricidae'''
*'''Family Soricidae'''
Line 53: Line 57:
***''[[Diplomesodon]]''
***''[[Diplomesodon]]''
***''[[Feroculus]]''
***''[[Feroculus]]''
***''[[Palawanosorex]]''
***''[[Paracrocidura]]''
***''[[Paracrocidura]]''
***''[[Ruwenzorisorex]]''
***''[[Ruwenzorisorex]]''
Line 77: Line 82:
****''[[Nectogale]]''
****''[[Nectogale]]''
****''[[Neomys]]''
****''[[Neomys]]''
****''†[[Nesiotites]]''
****†''[[Asoriculus]]''
****†''[[Nesiotites]]''
****''[[Soriculus]]''
****''[[Soriculus]]''
***Tribe [[Notiosoricini]]
***Tribe [[Notiosoricini]]
Line 85: Line 91:
****''[[Sorex]]''
****''[[Sorex]]''


==References==
== References ==
{{reflist|2}}
{{Reflist|32em}}


==Further reading==
== Further reading ==
{{refbegin|32em}}
* Buchler, E.R. 1973. The use of echolocation by the wandering shrew, Sorex vagrans Baird. Diss. Abstr. Int. B. Sci. Eng. 33(7): 3380–3381.
* {{Cite journal | last1 = Buchler | first1 = E. | title = The use of echolocation by the wandering shrew (Sorex vagrans) | doi = 10.1016/S0003-3472(76)80016-4 | journal = Animal Behaviour | volume = 24 | issue = 4 | pages = 858–873 | year = 1976 | pmid = | pmc = }}
* {{cite journal | vauthors = Buchler ER | title = The use of echolocation by the wandering shrew (''Sorex vagrans'') | journal = Animal Behaviour | date = November 1976 | volume = 24 | issue = 4 | pages = 858–73 | doi = 10.1016/S0003-3472(76)80016-4 | s2cid = 53160608 }}
* Busnel, R.-G. (Ed.). 1963. Acoustic Behaviour of Animals. Amsterdam: Elsevier Publishing Company.
* {{cite book | veditors = Busnel RG | date = 1963 | title = Acoustic Behaviour of Animals | location = Amsterdam | publisher = Elsevier Publishing Company }}
* {{Cite journal | last1 = Forsman | first1 = K. A. | last2 = Malmquist | first2 = M. G. | doi = 10.1111/j.1469-7998.1988.tb02463.x | title = Evidence for echolocation in the common shrew,Sorex araneus | journal = Journal of Zoology | volume = 216 | issue = 4 | pages = 655 | year = 1988 | pmid = | pmc = }}
* {{Cite journal | vauthors = Forsman KA, Malmquist MG | doi = 10.1111/j.1469-7998.1988.tb02463.x | title = Evidence for echolocation in the common shrew, ''Sorex araneus'' | journal = Journal of Zoology | volume = 216 | issue = 4 | pages = 655–662 | year = 1988 }}
* Gould, E. 1962. Evidence for echolocation in shrews.Ph.D. Thesis, Tulane University.
* {{cite thesis | vauthors = Gould E | date = 1962 | title = Evidence for echolocation in shrews | degree = Ph.D. | publisher = Tulane University }}
* {{Cite journal | last1 = Gould | first1 = E. | last2 = Negus | first2 = N. C. | last3 = Novick | first3 = A. | title = Evidence for echolocation in shrews | doi = 10.1002/jez.1401560103 | journal = Journal of Experimental Zoology | volume = 156 | pages = 19–37 | year = 1964 | pmid = 14189919| pmc = }}
* {{cite journal | vauthors = Gould E, Negus NC, Novick A | journal = The Journal of Experimental Zoology | volume = 156 | pages = 19–37 | date = June 1964 | pmid = 14189919 | doi = 10.1002/jez.1401560103 | title = Evidence for echolocation in shrews | issue = 1 | bibcode = 1964JEZ...156...19G }}
* {{cite book |last=Hutterer |first=Rainer |year=1976 |title=Deskriptive und vergleichende Verhaltensstudien an der Zwergspitzmaus, Sorex minutus L., und der Waldspitzmaus, Sorex araneus L. (Soricidae - Insectivora - Mammalia) |type=Ph.D. Thesis |publisher=Univ. Wien. |language=German |oclc=716064334}}
* {{cite book |last=Hutterer |first=Rainer | name-list-style = vanc |year=1976 |title=Deskriptive und vergleichende Verhaltensstudien an der Zwergspitzmaus, ''Sorex minutus'' L., und der Waldspitzmaus, ''Sorex araneus'' L. (Soricidae - Insectivora - Mammalia) |type=Ph.D. Thesis |publisher=Univ. Wien. |language=de |oclc=716064334}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Hutterer |first1=Rainer |last2=Vogel |first2=Peter |year=1977 |title=Abwehrlaute afrikanischer Spitzmäuse der Gattung Crocidura Wagler, 1832 und ihre systematische Bedeutung |journal=Bonn. Zool. Beitr |volume=28 |issue=3/4 |pages=218–27 |language=German |url=http://zfmk.de/BZB/1977/1977%20Hutterer%20R.%20u.%20Vogel%20P.%20p218%20orginal.pdf}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Hutterer |first1=Rainer |last2=Vogel |first2=Peter | name-list-style = vanc |year=1977 |title=Abwehrlaute afrikanischer Spitzmäuse der Gattung ''Crocidura'' Wagler, 1832 und ihre systematische Bedeutung |journal=Bonner zoologische Beiträge |volume=28 |issue=3/4 |pages=218–27 |language=de |url=http://zfmk.de/BZB/1977/1977%20Hutterer%20R.%20u.%20Vogel%20P.%20p218%20orginal.pdf}}
*{{cite journal |last1=Hutterer |first1=R. |last2=Vogel |first2=P. |last3=Frey |first3=H. |last4=Genoud |first4=M. |year=1979 |title=Vocalization of the shrews Suncus etruscus and Crocidura russula during normothermia and torpor |journal=Acta Theriologica |volume=24 |issue=21 |pages=267–71}}
* {{cite journal | vauthors = Hutterer R, Vogel P, Frey H, Genoud M |year=1979 |title=Vocalization of the shrews ''Suncus etruscus'' and ''Crocidura russula'' during normothermia and torpor |journal=Acta Theriologica |volume=24 |issue=21 |pages=267–71|doi=10.4098/AT.arch.79-28 |doi-access=free }}
* Irwin, D.V., Baxter, R.M. 1980. Evidence against the use of echolocation by Crocidura f. flavescens (Soricidae). Säugetierk. Mitt. 28(4): 323.
* {{cite journal | vauthors = Irwin DV, Baxter RM | title = Evidence against the use of echolocation by ''Crocidura f. flavescens'' (Soricidae) | journal = Säugetierkundliche Mitteilungen | date = 1980 | volume = 28 | issue = 4 | pages = 323 }}
* {{Cite journal | last1 = Kahmann | first1 = H. | last2 = Ostermann | first2 = K. | doi = 10.1007/BF02154548 | title = Wahrnehmen und Hervorbringen hoher Töne bei kleinen Säugetieren | trans_title=Perception of production of high tones by small mammals| language=German| journal = Experientia | volume = 7 | issue = 7 | pages = 268–269 | year = 1951 | pmid = 14860152| pmc = }}
* {{cite journal | vauthors = Kahmann H, Ostermann K | title = [Perception of production of high tones by small mammals] | language = de | journal = Experientia | volume = 7 | issue = 7 | pages = 268–9 | date = July 1951 | pmid = 14860152 | doi = 10.1007/BF02154548 | s2cid = 26738585 | trans-title = Perception of production of high tones by small mammals }}
* {{cite journal |last1=Köhler |first1=D. |last2=Wallschläger |first2=D. |year=1987 |title=Über die Lautäußerungen der Wasserspitzmaus, Neomys fodiens (Insectivora: Soricidae) |trans_title=On vocalization of the european water shrew Neomys fodiens (Insectivora: Soricidae) |language=German |journal=Zoologische Jahrbücher |volume=91 |issue=1 |pages=89–99}}
* {{cite journal | vauthors = Köhler D, Wallschläger D |year=1987 |title=Über die Lautäußerungen der Wasserspitzmaus, ''Neomys fodiens'' (Insectivora: Soricidae) |trans-title=On vocalization of the european water shrew Neomys fodiens (Insectivora: Soricidae) |language=de |journal=Zoologische Jahrbücher |volume=91 |issue=1 |pages=89–99}}
* Sales, G., Pye, D. 1974. Ultrasonic communication by animals. London.
* {{cite book | vauthors = Sales G, Pye D | date = 1974 | title = Ultrasonic communication by animals | location = London }}
{{refend}}


==External links==
== External links ==
{{commons category|Soricidae}}
* {{Commons-inline|Soricidae}}
* {{Cite NSRW|short=x|wstitle=Shrew}}
* {{Cite NSRW|short=x|wstitle=Shrew}}
* [https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/oct/23/small-minded-shrews-shrink-their-skulls-to-survive-winter-study-shows The common shrew ''Sorex araneus'' shrinks its skull to survive winter] (disc. 1949, [[August Dehnel]])


{{Soricomorpha}}
{{Eulipotyphla}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q41631}}
{{Authority control}}


[[Category:Shrews| ]]
[[Category:Shrews| ]]
⚫
[[Category:Mammals of Europe]]
[[Category:Extant Eocene first appearances]]
[[Category:Extant Eocene first appearances]]
⚫
[[Category:Mammals of Europe]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Gotthelf Fischer von Waldheim]]

Latest revision as of 21:00, 1 November 2024

For other uses, see Shrew (disambiguation).

Shrews[1]
Temporal range: Middle Eocene–Recent
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Eulipotyphla
Family: Soricidae
G. Fischer, 1814
Type genus
Sorex
Subfamilies

Shrews (family Soricidae) are small mole-like mammals classified in the order Eulipotyphla. True shrews are not to be confused with treeshrews, otter shrews, elephant shrews, West Indies shrews, or marsupial shrews, which belong to different families or orders.

Although its external appearance is generally that of a long-nosed mouse, a shrew is not a rodent, as mice are. It is, in fact, a much closer relative of hedgehogs and moles; shrews are related to rodents only in that both belong to the Boreoeutheria magnorder. Shrews have sharp, spike-like teeth, whereas rodents have gnawing front incisor teeth.

Shrews are distributed almost worldwide. Among the major tropical and temperate land masses, only New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand, and South America have no native shrews. However, as a result of the Great American Interchange, South America does have a relatively recently naturalised population, present only in the northern Andes.

The shrew family has 385 known species, making it the fourth-most species-diverse mammal family. The only mammal families with more species are the muroid rodent families (Muridae and Cricetidae) and the bat family Vespertilionidae.

Characteristics

[edit]

All shrews are tiny, most no larger than a mouse. The largest species is the Asian house shrew (Suncus murinus) of tropical Asia, which is about 15 cm (6 in) long and weighs around 100 g (3+1⁄2 oz)[2] The Etruscan shrew (Suncus etruscus), at about 3.5 cm (1+3⁄8 in) and 1.8 grams (28 grains), is the smallest known living terrestrial mammal.

Water shrew skeleton

In general, shrews are terrestrial creatures that forage for seeds, insects, nuts, worms, and a variety of other foods in leaf litter and dense vegetation e.g. grass, but some specialise in climbing trees, living underground, living under snow, or even hunting in water. They have small eyes and generally poor vision, but have excellent senses of hearing and smell.[3] They are very active animals, with voracious appetites. Shrews have unusually high metabolic rates, above that expected in comparable small mammals.[4] For this reason, they need to eat almost constantly like moles. Shrews in captivity can eat 1⁄2 to 2 times their own body weight in food daily.[5]

They do not hibernate, but some species are capable of entering torpor. In winter, many species undergo morphological changes that drastically reduce their body weight. Shrews can lose between 30% and 50% of their body weight, shrinking the size of bones, skull, and internal organs.[6]

Whereas rodents have gnawing incisors that grow throughout life, the teeth of shrews wear down throughout life, a problem made more extreme because they lose their milk teeth before birth, so have only one set of teeth throughout their lifetimes. In some species, exposed areas of the teeth are dark red due to the presence of iron in the tooth enamel. The iron reinforces the surfaces that are exposed to the most stress, which helps prolong the life of the teeth. This adaptation is not found in species with lower metabolism, which do not have to eat as much and therefore do not wear down the enamel to the same degree. The only other mammals' teeth with pigmented enamel are the incisors of rodents.[7] Apart from the first pair of incisors, which are long and sharp, and the chewing molars at the back of the mouth, the teeth of shrews are small and peg-like, and may be reduced in number. The dental formula of shrews is:3.1.1-3.31-2.0-1.1.3

Shrews are fiercely territorial, driving off rivals, and coming together only to mate. Many species dig burrows for catching food and hiding from predators, although this is not universal.[3]

Female shrews can have up to 10 litters a year; in the tropics, they breed all year round; in temperate zones, they cease breeding only in the winter. Shrews have gestation periods of 17–32 days. The female often becomes pregnant within a day or so of giving birth, and lactates during her pregnancy, weaning one litter as the next is born.[3] Shrews live 12 to 30 months.[8]

A characteristic behaviour observed in many species of shrew is known as "caravanning". This is when a litter of young shrews form a line behind the mother, each gripping the shrew in front by the fur at the base of the tail.[9]

Shrews are unusual among mammals in a number of respects. Unlike most mammals, some species of shrews are venomous. Shrew venom is not conducted into the wound by fangs, but by grooves in the teeth. The venom contains various compounds, and the contents of the venom glands of the American short-tailed shrew are sufficient to kill 200 mice by intravenous injection. One chemical extracted from shrew venom may be potentially useful in the treatment of high blood pressure, while another compound may be useful in the treatment of some neuromuscular diseases and migraines.[10][better source needed] The saliva of the northern short-tailed shrew (Blarina brevicauda) contains soricidin, a peptide which has been studied for use in treating ovarian cancer.[11] Also, along with the bats and toothed whales, some species of shrews use echolocation.[12] Unlike most other mammals, shrews lack zygomatic bones (also called the jugals), so have incomplete zygomatic arches.[13]

Echolocation

[edit]
The northern short-tailed shrew is known to echolocate.

The only terrestrial mammals known to echolocate are two genera (Sorex and Blarina) of shrews, the tenrecs of Madagascar, bats, and the solenodons.[14] These include the Eurasian or common shrew (Sorex araneus) and the American vagrant shrew (Sorex vagrans) and northern short-tailed shrew (Blarina brevicauda). These shrews emit series of ultrasonic squeaks.[15][16] By nature the shrew sounds, unlike those of bats, are low-amplitude, broadband, multiharmonic, and frequency modulated.[16] They contain no "echolocation clicks" with reverberations and would seem to be used for simple, close-range spatial orientation. In contrast to bats, shrews use echolocation only to investigate their habitats rather than additionally to pinpoint food.[16]

Except for large and thus strongly reflecting objects, such as a big stone or tree trunk, they probably are not able to disentangle echo scenes, but rather derive information on habitat type from the overall call reverberations. This might be comparable to human hearing whether one calls into a beech forest or into a reverberant wine cellar.[16]

Classification

[edit]
Further information: List of crocidurines, List of myosoricines, and List of soricines

The 385 shrew species are placed in 26 genera,[17] which are grouped into three living subfamilies: Crocidurinae (white-toothed shrews), Myosoricinae (African shrews), and Soricinae (red-toothed shrews). In addition, the family contains the extinct subfamilies Limnoecinae, Crocidosoricinae, Allosoricinae, and Heterosoricinae (although Heterosoricinae is also commonly considered a separate family).

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Hutterer R (2005). Wilson D, Reeder D (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 223–300. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
  2. ^ Louch CD, Ghosh AK, Pal BC (1966). "Seasonal Changes in Weight and Reproductive Activity of Suncus murinus in West Bengal, India". Journal of Mammalogy. 47 (1): 73–78. doi:10.2307/1378070. JSTOR 1378070. PMID 5905563.
  3. ^ a b c Barnard CJ (1984). Macdonald DW (ed.). The Encyclopedia of Mammals. New York: Facts on File. pp. 758–763. ISBN 0-87196-871-1.
  4. ^ William J, Platt WJ (1974). "Metabolic Rates of Short-Tailed Shrews". Physiological Zoology. 47 (2): 75–90. doi:10.1086/physzool.47.2.30155625. JSTOR 30155625. S2CID 87675441.
  5. ^ Reid F (2009). A Field Guide to the Mammals of Central America and Southeast Mexico. pp. 63–64.
  6. ^ Churchfield S (January 1990). The natural history of shrews. Cornell University Press. ISBN 978-0-8014-2595-0.
  7. ^ Wible J (6 February 2018). "Why Do Some Shrews Have Dark Red Teeth?". Carnegie Museum.
  8. ^ Macdonald DW, ed. (2006). The Encyclopedia of Mammals. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-920608-2.
  9. ^ D'Agostino, Jennifer (2015-01-01), Miller, R. Eric; Fowler, Murray E. (eds.), "Chapter 34 - Insectivores (Insectivora, Macroscelidea, Scandentia)", Fowler's Zoo and Wild Animal Medicine, Volume 8, St. Louis: W.B. Saunders, pp. 275–281, doi:10.1016/b978-1-4557-7397-8.00034-7, ISBN 978-1-4557-7397-8, retrieved 2024-10-23
  10. ^ Piper, Ross (30 August 2007). Extraordinary Animals: An Encyclopedia of Curious and Unusual Animals. Greenwood Press. ISBN 978-0313339226.
  11. ^ "BioProspecting NB, Inc's novel ovarian cancer treatment found effective in animal cancer model". 8 Apr 2009. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
  12. ^ Chai, Simin; Tian, Ran; Rong, Xinghua; Li, Guiting; Chen, Bingyao; Ren, Wenhua; Xu, Shixia; Yang, Guang (2020-02-25). "Evidence of Echolocation in the Common Shrew from Molecular Convergence with Other Echolocating Mammals". Zoological Studies. 59 (59): e4. doi:10.6620/ZS.2020.59-04. ISSN 1021-5506. PMC 7262541. PMID 32494297. S2CID 215414310.
  13. ^ "About the mammalian skull, and be able to define and/or identify on a specimen all underlined terms" (PDF).
  14. ^ "What is echolocation and which animals use it?". Discover Wildlife. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  15. ^ Tomasi TE (1979). "Echolocation by the Short-Tailed Shrew Blarina brevicauda". Journal of Mammalogy. 60 (4): 751–9. doi:10.2307/1380190. JSTOR 1380190.
  16. ^ a b c d Siemers BM, Schauermann G, Turni H, von Merten S (October 2009). "Why do shrews twitter? Communication or simple echo-based orientation". Biology Letters. 5 (5): 593–6. doi:10.1098/rsbl.2009.0378. PMC 2781971. PMID 19535367.
  17. ^ Wilson DE, Reeder DM (2011). "Class Mammalia Linnaeus, 1758. In: Zhang, Z.-Q. (ed.) Animal biodiversity: An outline of higher-level classification and survey of taxonomic richness" (PDF). Zootaxa. 3148: 56–60. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3148.1.9.

Further reading

[edit]
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Shrew&oldid=1254818662"