Mammals · Eulipotyphla · Soricidae

Eurasian Common Shrew

Sorex araneus

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

It is one of the few venomous mammals in the world, its toxic saliva helping to subdue prey. Its life cycle is extraordinarily compressed: born in spring, it dies before the end of its second year.

Weight

5 g – 14 g

Size

5.5 cm – 8.2 cm

Lifespan

1 years

Diet

Insectivore

Feeds mainly on insects and other invertebrates.

Activity

Irregular activity

Active at irregular times, by day or night depending on circumstances.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

Temperate forestGrasslandInsectivore Variable activity Solitary Temperate forest Grassland Mammal

45countries 165parks5same family

Fun facts

Its saliva is toxic and helps subdue its prey.
It eats almost its own body weight in food every day.
Its whole life cycle lasts barely more than a year.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: Hedgerows, grassland, marsh and woodland across much of Europe, absent from Ireland
Birth weight: 0.44 grams
Size at birth: Blind and hairless at birth
Sexual maturity: 9-10 months (it rarely breeds until the spring after it is born)
Gestation / incubation: 19-25 days
Litter / clutch size: 1 to 10 young per litter (most commonly 6), up to 2-4 litters per year
Lifespan in captivity: Documented record of 3.2 years in captivity

Sources consulted: Animal Diversity Web; AnAge; Animalia.bio; Reality Pathing; NatureSpot; Wildlife Trusts; PMC; Proceedings Zoological Society London; Wikipedia

Where to find it

See its range on the interactive map

Best time: All year round; it is active by day and by night, but very hard to watch, and is often noticed only from the bodies that cats leave behind.