Eurasian water shrew facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eurasian water shrew |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Neomys
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| Species: |
fodiens
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| Eurasian water shrew range | |
| Synonyms | |
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Crossopus fodiens Pallas |
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The Eurasian water shrew (Neomys fodiens) is a cool little mammal. It's a type of shrew that loves water. These shrews can grow up to 10 centimeters (about 4 inches) long. Their tail is almost as long as their body!
They have dark fur, often with some white spots. Their belly is white. They also have special stiff hairs on their feet and tail. These hairs help them swim and move in the water.
Like some other shrews, the water shrew has venom in its saliva. This makes it one of the few venomous mammals. Don't worry, it can't hurt humans or large animals. It uses its venom to catch its prey. These shrews live alone and are found across Europe and Asia.
Contents
What Does It Look Like?
The Eurasian water shrew is about 10 cm (4 inches) long. Its tail is around 8 cm (3 inches) long. It usually weighs between 15 and 19 grams (about half an ounce).
Its fur is thick and short. It's greyish-black on its head, back, and sides. The fur on its belly is dirty white. There's a clear line where the dark fur meets the white fur. Sometimes, their fur can be a bit rusty brown.
They have a small white spot behind each eye. Often, there's another white spot near their tiny, round ears. Their nose is black and their snout is long and pointy. Their teeth are sharp and mostly white, but the tips are red. This red color comes from iron, which makes their tooth enamel extra strong.
Their legs are short, but their back feet are strong. These feet have a fringe of stiff hairs on the outer edge. This helps them push through the water. Their tail is thin and has a line of short white hairs underneath it, like a little keel. Water shrews often make high-pitched squeaks as they move around.
Where Does It Live?
You can find the Eurasian water shrew all over Europe. But you won't find them in Iceland, Ireland, some Mediterranean islands, or the Balkans. In Asia, they live from western Siberia all the way to North Korea and the Pacific coast of Siberia.
These shrews almost always stay near water. They live in and around ditches, streams, ponds, and damp meadows. They also like bushy areas next to water.
Life and Habits
Eurasian water shrews are mostly solitary animals. This means they like to be alone. Outside of the breeding season, both male and female shrews have their own areas, called territories. They usually try to avoid each other.
These shrews are active both day and night. They are very good swimmers. Their short fur traps air bubbles, which helps them float. It also keeps their skin from getting wet when they swim. When they come out of the water, they go into one of their many burrows. The earth walls of the burrow soak up any water on their fur.
They can stay underwater for about 20 seconds before they need to come up for air. They use their special venom to help catch bigger prey.
What Does It Eat?
The Eurasian water shrew mainly eats creatures that live in the water. They catch these while swimming. Their diet includes:
They also eat small rodents. On land, they might eat insect larvae.
Its Special Venom
The Eurasian water shrew has a pair of glands under its jaw. These glands produce venom. This venom is strong enough to paralyze small animals like the field vole. The venom helps the shrew immobilize its prey or protect itself from threats.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
The breeding season for Eurasian water shrews is from April to September. They often do their courtship in the water.
They either use burrows that are already there or dig their own. The nest inside the burrow is made soft with moss, dry grass, and leaves. After about 24 days, the female gives birth to a litter of four to eight (or more) tiny, helpless babies.
Their eyes open when they are about 15 to 18 days old. They are fully weaned (stop drinking milk) at about seven weeks old. A female can have two or three litters in a year. Once the young shrews are weaned, they leave to find their own territories. They can start having their own babies when they are about six to eight months old. Eurasian water shrews can live for about three years.
Conservation Status
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists the Eurasian water shrew as "Least concern". This is good news! It means their population is large and spread out over a wide area. Their numbers seem to be quite stable.
In some places, their habitat is being damaged. Wetlands are sometimes drained, which means less space for them to live. However, this isn't happening so much that it makes them "Vulnerable". Other possible threats include pollution from farms and sewage in waterways. This can reduce the amount of food available for them.
