Kihaule's mouse shrew facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kihaule's mouse shrew
Conservation status
Endangered (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Eulipotyphla
Family:	Soricidae
Genus:	Myosorex
Species:	M. kihaulei
Binomial name
Myosorex kihaulei Stanley & Hutterer, 2000
Kihaule's mouse shrew range
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The Kihaule's mouse shrew (Myosorex kihaulei) is a tiny mammal that looks a bit like a mouse. It belongs to the Soricidae family, which includes shrews. This special shrew is found only in Tanzania, a country in Africa. It lives in the Udzungwa Mountains, which are part of the Eastern Arc Mountains.

This shrew likes to live in wet, cool mountain forests and even in some farms. Sadly, its home is shrinking because of habitat destruction. This means the places where it lives are being cleared away. Because of this, the International Union for Conservation of Nature says it is an "endangered" animal. This means it is at high risk of disappearing forever. The shrew was named after Philip M. Kihaule, who helped find and study many small mammals in Tanzania.

What it Looks Like

Kihaule's mouse shrew is a small creature. Its head and body together are about 7 to 8.4 centimeters (about 3 inches) long. Its tail adds another 3.6 to 4.6 centimeters (about 1.5 inches).

Its fur on its back is a dark brown color. The hairs are dark at the bottom and lighter brown at the tips. Its belly fur is brown, but not as rich in color as a similar shrew called the Geata mouse shrew. The pads on its back feet are big and round, and its claws are strong. Its tail is about half the length of its head and body combined.

Where it Lives

This shrew is found only in Tanzania. It lives in the Udzungwa Mountains. These mountains are part of a larger group called the Eastern Arc Mountains. Scientists think that a long time ago, these mountains were covered by one big rainforest.

However, the climate changed. The low areas between the mountains became dry savannah grasslands. This caused the forests on each mountain to become separate. Because of this, many unique animals, like this shrew, developed only in these isolated areas. Kihaule's mouse shrew lives in moist mountain forests, including swampy areas and places with bamboo. It prefers to live at high altitudes, above 1,400 meters (about 4,600 feet).

Why it's Endangered

The total area where Kihaule's mouse shrew lives is about 1,616 square kilometers (about 624 square miles). Even though it can be common in good habitats, its home is shrinking. People are cutting down forests to make space for farms.

It is not clear if this shrew can live in areas where the forest has been damaged. However, one shrew was found living in a tea plantation. Because its habitat is being destroyed, the International Union for Conservation of Nature has listed it as "endangered." This means we need to protect its home so it can survive.