Cyrenaica shrew facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cyrenaica shrew
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Eulipotyphla
Family:	Soricidae
Genus:	Crocidura
Species:	C. aleksandrisi
Binomial name
Crocidura aleksandrisi Vesmanis, 1977
Cyrenaica shrew range
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The Cyrenaica shrew, also known as Alexander's shrew, is a tiny mammal. It belongs to a group called white-toothed shrews. These shrews are part of the Soricidae family, which includes many types of shrews. This special shrew lives only in Libya, a country in North Africa. When an animal lives only in one specific place, we say it is endemic to that area.

What Does the Cyrenaica Shrew Look Like?

The Cyrenaica shrew is a small animal. It looks a lot like the lesser white-toothed shrew, which is found across Europe and Asia. A key feature of these shrews is their teeth. Unlike some other shrews, their teeth do not have any red color on the tips.

These shrews have soft fur. Their fur is usually paler on their bellies. They have a pointed snout, which is like a long nose. They also have a long tail. These features help them explore their surroundings and find food.

Where Do Cyrenaica Shrews Live?

The Cyrenaica shrew is found only in Libya. Specifically, it lives in a region called Cyrenaica. This area is near the coast. These shrews can be found from sea level up to about 200 to 300 meters high.

Scientists have been studying these shrews for many years. They collected samples from the 1960s to the 1990s. During this time, they did not see any signs that the number of shrews was going down. There also didn't seem to be any big dangers to them in their home area. Because of this, experts believe the Cyrenaica shrew is not currently at risk. It is listed as "Least Concern" by conservation groups.

How Do Cyrenaica Shrews Behave?

Cyrenaica shrews like to live in certain types of places. They are found in areas with Mediterranean plants, like scrubland. They also live near the coast and in rocky spots. Scientists think they can even live in places where the habitat has been changed a bit by humans.

These shrews mostly live on the ground. They are also thought to be active at night, which means they are nocturnal. They are very closely related to the lesser white-toothed shrew. This suggests they might have similar habits. For example, they might be quite social.

One interesting behavior is called "caravanning." This is when young shrews follow their mother in a line. Each baby holds onto the tail of the one in front of it with its mouth. This helps the family stay together when they are looking for food or a safe place to hide.

Cyrenaica shrews seem to be quite common. Their skulls are often found in owl pellets. Owl pellets are small, compact balls of undigested food that owls spit out. Finding shrew skulls in these pellets tells us that owls often hunt them.

This group of shrews is also sometimes called "musk shrews." This is because they produce a musky smell. They use this scent to mark their territory. They do this by dragging their bellies along the ground, leaving their scent behind.