Hildegarde's shrew facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hildegarde's shrew |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
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Crocidura
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| Species: |
hildegardeae
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| Hildegarde's shrew range | |
The Hildegarde's shrew (Crocidura hildegardeae) is a tiny mammal that belongs to the Soricidae family, which includes shrews. It lives in several countries in Africa. You can find it in places like Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania.
For a while, some scientists thought it was just a type of another shrew, Crocidura gracilipes. But now, experts agree it's its own unique species. This shrew is one of three small mammals named by a British zoologist, Oldfield Thomas. He named them to honor an amazing anthropologist named Hildegarde Beatrice Hinde.
What Does Hildegarde's Shrew Look Like?
Hildegarde's shrew is a medium-sized shrew. Its head and body are about 70 mm (2.8 in) long. That's about the length of a small candy bar! Male shrews are usually a little bigger than females.
Its fur is a lovely milk chocolate brown color on its back. The hairs on its rump are a bit longer than on other parts of its body. Its belly is a pale brown. Its legs are dark brown, but the inside of its back legs are yellowish-brown.
This shrew has a long tail, which is about 70% as long as its body. The tail has some fur on it. It's black on top and brown underneath.
Where Do Hildegarde's Shrews Live?
This shrew lives in Central and East Africa. You can find it in Cameroon and areas north of the River Congo. It also lives in the Republic of the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Further east, it lives in Kenya and Tanzania.
Hildegarde's shrews love dry forests in high-up areas like mountains. They are very common in Tanzania at heights of about 1,100 m (3,600 ft). They are not as common in very wet forests. In Rwanda, they can also be found in moist savanna areas and even in farms. They live in both old, untouched forests and areas where new plants are growing.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) checks on animals to see if they are in danger. They have said that Hildegarde's shrew is a "least concern" species. This means it's not currently at risk of disappearing.
Life Cycle and Habits
Hildegarde's shrew is a nocturnal animal. This means it is most active at night, looking for food and exploring.
These shrews usually have their babies in July and August. When a mother shrew gives birth, she typically has two young ones in her litter.
Small meat-eating mammals sometimes hunt these shrews. Also, a type of viper snake called Atheris nitschei is known to eat Hildegarde's shrews.
