Brazilian shrew mouse facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Brazilian shrew mouse Temporal range: Pleistocene – Recent
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Genus:	Blarinomys
Species:	breviceps

The Brazilian shrew mouse (Blarinomys breviceps) is a small rodent that lives in the Atlantic Forest of eastern and southeastern Brazil. It is also known as the blarinine akodont. This mouse is the only species in its genus called Blarinomys. Scientists have studied its family tree and found that there are two main groups of these mice. One group lives in the northeast of Brazil, and the other lives in the southeast.

What Does It Look Like?

The Brazilian shrew mouse looks a lot like a tiny shrew or a mole. It has small eyes that don't see very well, short ears, and a short tail. Its fur is soft and short. This mole-like look helps it stand out from other rodents in its home.

Its body is specially made for living underground. It has wide front feet and big claws, which are perfect for digging tunnels. It also has a long snout that it uses to sniff out insects in the ground. Its strong jaw muscles help it close its mouth quickly, so it doesn't swallow dirt while eating. Female Brazilian shrew mice are usually a little bigger than the males. This difference between sexes is called sexual dimorphism.

How Long Do They Live?

It's hard to know how long Brazilian shrew mice live in the wild because they are very difficult to find. When scientists try to keep them in captivity, they often refuse to eat and die soon after being caught. Most experts believe they live for less than one year, similar to other rodents in their family group, called Sigmodontinae.

What Do They Eat?

We don't know much about what the Brazilian shrew mouse eats. However, scientists think they mostly eat insects. When some of these mice were studied in captivity, they often refused food and died within a few days. But some captive mice did eat different insects like crickets, moths, butterflies, and roaches. They usually don't eat other foods like fruits or seeds.

Is It Endangered?

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) keeps a list of endangered species called the Red List. On this list, the Brazilian shrew mouse is currently considered a species of "Least Concern." This means it's not thought to be in danger of disappearing.

However, some experts believe that because these mice are so hard to find, we don't have enough information to be sure about their conservation status. More research is needed to truly understand how many Brazilian shrew mice are out there.