Preble's shrew facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Preble's shrew |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Sorex
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| Species: |
preblei
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| Preble's shrew range | |
The Preble's shrew (Sorex preblei) is a tiny mammal. It lives in parts of the United States and southern Canada. You can find it in areas like the Great Basin region.
Contents
What Does It Look Like?
The Preble's shrew has gray fur on its back. Its belly fur is silvery. Like many shrews, it has a long nose and noticeable ears. It also has small eyes. Its feet are flat, meaning it walks on the soles of its feet.
This shrew is the smallest member of its group in North America. It measures about 77 to 95 millimeters (3 to 3.7 inches) long from head to tail. Its tail is usually 28 to 38 millimeters (1.1 to 1.5 inches) long. Its back feet are 7 to 11 millimeters (0.28 to 0.43 inches) long. Its ears are about 8 to 11 millimeters (0.31 to 0.43 inches) long.
Where Do They Live?
Preble's shrews live in Western North America. They are found from the Columbia Plateau to the northern Great Plains. People have seen them in places like northeastern California and central Colorado. They also live in parts of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and Utah. In Canada, they are only found in south-central British Columbia. These shrews usually live in areas that are 1,280 to 2,550 meters (4,200 to 8,370 feet) high.
Most Preble's shrews live in dry or semi-dry areas. These places often have shrubs and grasses. They are usually found near coniferous forests with lots of sagebrush. However, they can live in other places too. Some have been found in meadows in Oregon. Others live in marshy areas. They often stay near sagebrush for protection. In British Columbia, they have been found in grasslands. These grasslands are often surrounded by Douglas fir or ponderosa pine trees.
Lifestyle and Life Cycle
We don't know much about the Preble's shrew's daily life. But it probably acts like other shrews in its habitat. These other shrews are often active both day and night. It is likely that the Preble's shrew is active all year long. Shrews have been seen in spring and late summer in Wyoming. They have also been seen in summer, fall, and spring in British Columbia. In Nevada, they have been found in summer and fall. Some have even been collected in Utah in the middle of winter. In Montana, they have been seen from mid-February to early November.
Reproduction
Scientists have not studied the reproduction of Preble's shrews very much. So, we don't know a lot about it. One study looked at 26 female shrews in Oregon. This was in June and July 1999. Five of these adult females were pregnant. They had between 3 and 6 babies developing inside them. Most of the females had signs that they had already given birth at least once. Young females did not show any signs of being ready to reproduce. The study suggests that females might have more than one litter of babies each year.
What Do They Eat?
The diet of the Preble's shrew is not fully known. But it probably eats similar things to other shrews in its group. These shrews usually eat small insects. They also eat other small invertebrates. This includes worms, snails, and centipedes. The Preble's shrew has a weak bite. This suggests it likely eats prey with soft bodies.
Other Shrews and Predators
Other shrews live in the same areas as the Preble's shrew. These include the Cinereus shrew, Prairie shrew, Merriam's shrew, and Sorex vagrans. Preble's shrews have been found near Cinereus shrews in Montana.
Scientists have not studied how many Preble's shrews there are. They also don't know much about their population changes. In most places where Preble's shrews live with other shrew species, they are less common. This might mean that other shrew species are better at competing for food or space. We don't have many reports about what animals hunt Preble's shrews.
The Preble's shrew has been looked at twice to see if it should be listed as an endangered species. But it is not currently listed as endangered. No special efforts are being made to protect them right now.
