Black-footed shrew facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Black-footed shrew |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
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Crocidura
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| Species: |
nigripes
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| Black-footed shrew range | |
The black-footed shrew (scientific name: Crocidura nigripes) is a tiny mammal. It belongs to the Soricidae family, which includes many types of shrews. This special shrew only lives in northern and central Sulawesi, Indonesia. You can find it on the forest floor in tropical areas. Experts say it is a "least concern" animal, meaning it's not currently in danger.
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Discovering the Black-footed Shrew
The black-footed shrew was first officially described in 1921. Two American animal experts, Gerrit Smith Miller Jr. and Hollister, gave it the name Crocidura nigripes. They found the first example of this shrew near Lake Tondano in North Sulawesi.
Sulawesi's Unique Shrews
The black-footed shrew is one of several shrew species that live only on the island of Sulawesi. Other shrews found there include the Sulawesi white-handed shrew (Crocidura rhoditis) and the Sulawesi shrew (Crocidura lea). There's also the elongated shrew (Crocidura elongata) and the mossy forest shrew (Crocidura musseri).
What Does the Black-footed Shrew Look Like?
The Sulawesi black-footed shrew is a small animal. It is a type of white-toothed shrew. This means its teeth do not have the reddish color that some other shrews have. Its fur on its back is short and soft. It can be grayish-brown or reddish-brown.
Key Features
The fur on its belly is lighter in color. This shrew has ears that stick out. Its legs are short, and its feet are black, which is how it got its name. It also has a long tail with a few scattered long hairs.
Where Do Black-footed Shrews Live?
The Sulawesi black-footed shrew lives only on the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia. You can find it in the central and northern parts of the island. It lives in places that are high up, sometimes as high as 9,800 feet (3,000 meters) above sea level.
Their Forest Home
Its home is the floor of tropical forests. This includes both forests in lowlands and those higher up in the mountains. It likes to search for food among the fallen leaves on the ground. Scientists believe it is active mostly at night. However, not much is known about its daily life or how it grows up.
Is the Black-footed Shrew Safe?
The Sulawesi black-footed shrew lives across a large area. It is also found in several protected areas. The number of these shrews seems to be stable, meaning it's not going down.
Threats to Their Habitat
Currently, there are no major threats to this species. However, cutting down forests could harm them. It's not clear if they can find new homes if their forest is destroyed. The International Union for Conservation of Nature says it is a "least concern" species. This means it is not currently at risk of disappearing.
