Shrew

Latin Name --
Common Name Shrew
Icon(s) Shrew
Image credit

There are various species of shrew present within 'Souls territories.

Although its external appearance is generally that of a long-nosed mouse, a shrew is not a Rodent, as mice are, and is in fact more closely related to Moles. Shrews have sharp, spike-like teeth, not the familiar gnawing front incisor teeth of rodents. All shrews are comparatively small, most no larger than a mouse. Shrews are terrestrial creatures that forage for seeds, insects, nuts, worms and a variety of other foods in leaf litter and dense vegetation.

1.  Types

1.1  Northern Short-tailed Shrew (Blarina brevicauda)

This shrew has a total length of 108 to 140 mm (4.3 to 5.5 inches), of which 18 to 32 mm (0.7 to 1.3 inches) is tail; it weighs 15 to 30 grams (0.5 to 1.1 ounces). The northern short-tailed shrew exhibits slight sexual dimorphism in size, with the male being slightly larger than the female. The dorsal fur is thick and velvety, and can be black, brownish black, or silvery gray, with the ventral fur being a bit lighter and grayer.

1.2  Masked Shrew (Sorex cinereus)

It is grey-brown in colour with a light grey underside and a pointed snout. It has a long tail which is brown on top and pale underneath with a dark tip. Its body is about 9 cm in length including a 4 cm long tail. It weighs about 5 g. It has darker coloring than other shrews. Masked shrews can live up to two years, but averagely only survive eighteen months.

1.3  Smoky Shrew (Sorex fumeus)

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. Its body is about 11 cm in length including a 4 cm long tail and it weighs about 5 g. This animal is found near streams in cool damp deciduous and mixed woods. Its range extends further south along the Appalachian Mountains. It makes extensive burrows in the leaf litter on the forest floor.

1.4  American Pygmy Shrew (Sorex hoyi)

The American pygmy shrew is the smallest mammal native to North America and is one of the smallest mammals in the world. Its body is about 5 cm (2.0 in) in length including a 2 cm (0.79 in) long tail and it weighs about 2 to 2.5 g (0.071 to 0.088 oz).[3] It is grey-brown or red-brown in colour with lighter underparts. The fur is greyer in winter. A small, uncommon shrew found in northern coniferous and deciduous forests and open wet areas -- Sticks and Stones is common.

1.5  Long-Tailed Shrew (Sorex dispar)

This shrew is slate grey in colour with a pointed snout, a long tail and lighter underparts. It is found on rocky slopes in mountainous areas along the Atlantic coast -- Northern Tides and extreme western Sticks and Stones are the only areas where this shrew is found.

1.6  Maritime Shrew (Sorex maritimensis)

This shrew is native to the Maritime provinces.

2.  Speech

According to our Speech Guide, this creature speaks Low Speech naturally. It is therefore not able to communicate with Luperci. This creature is listed as having the ability to learn some limited comprehension of high speech, but generally will never be able to speak it.

3.  Uses

  • Food

4.  More

5.  'Souls

  • Something!
Categories: Fauna | Resources