Photo by Mammalwatching.com
Fact file
Latin name
Crocidura russula
Threat status
Least Concern (Global)
Least Concern (Europe)
Least Concern (UK)
Etymology
The Genus crocidura translates from greek as woolly tail and russula translates in latin to reddish as the dorsal pelage can be reddish brown in colour.
Identifying features
Their dorsal side is often a brown reddish colour and the underside is a greyish brown. They are recognisable due to their long tail hairs but are most well known for their white teeth which is unlike other rodents whose teeth are yellow-orange- hence the name of greater white-toothed shrew.
Habitat
Common in woodland, hedgerows, grassland and agricultural land as well as around buildings.
Numbers
77-100/ha in continental Europe but exact population estimates are unknown. From the Mammal Society Review of the Population and Conservation Status of British Mammals.
Distribution
Throughout Europe and North-western Africa from Morroco to Northern Germany, In the UK, they are only found on the Channel islands of Guernsey and Alderney. There is also a smaller population which is found in the Canary Islands. In recent years, an invasive population has made its way to Ireland.
Diet
They are true insectivores, eating mostly small insects.
Size
Head and body length of around 60-90mm and a tail length of 33-46mm. They can reach weights of 10.5-14g.
Life span
In the wild their life span is around 2 to 2.5 years with many surviving a second winter but have been known to live up to 4 years in captivity.
Breeding
They breed from early spring (February) through to late summer (October). it is common for individuals to be sexually mature in their first year with sexual maturity reached at around 50-78 days .Gestation is around 28-33 days and litters can range form 2-11 and take 28 days or so to properly wean.
Survey techniques
Courtesy of the BBC
They are often surveyed using live trapping techniques but due to their high metabolism are unable to stay in traps for long unless they are given food.
Musk Shrew
The greater white-toothed shrew belongs to the family of musk shrews which are names due to their potent odour. Male greater white-toothed shrew can produce an odour made of up to 70 different compounds and have recognisable odour which can be used to help identify them in the field.
Echolocation
The greater white-toothed shrew is thought to possess a primitive form of echolocation by producing high pitched twittering calls. This allows them to navigate though their environment as well as locate prey items