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Home > Coniferous Forest Animals > Arctic Shrew

Arctic Shrew

Arctic shrews can be found in the northern US and through most of Canada. Their populations are abundant through most of their range, thus negating the risk of extinction.

Arctic Shrew

Scientific Classification

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Eulipotyphla
Family Soricidae
Genus Sorex
Scientific Name Sorex arcticus

Quick Information

Also known as Blackback shrew, Saddlebacked shrew, musaraigne arctique (French)
Description Size: 3.94-4.92 in (100-125 mm)

Weight: 0.19-0.48 oz (5.3-13.5 g)

Color: They have tri-colored fur, most visible during winter; dark brown on the dorsal side from the head to the tail, light brown on the sides, and the belly is graying brown; the tail is dark brown dorsally while the ventral side is light brown; they molt twice a year, the winter pelage is brighter and denser, while in summer it is pale and loosely packed

Subspecies
  • Sorex arcticus arcticus
  • Sorex arcticus laricorum
Distribution From the Arctic Circle in the north to the Northern United States
Habitat Mostly found near water bodies like streams, marshes, lakes, wetlands, and swamps; can also be seen in tamarack and spruce swamps, boreal forests, mixed conifer swamps, old or dry fields, mixed grasses, alder thickets, forbs, sedge hammocks, willow, and cattail shrubs
Sounds & Communication Mostly through touch, smell, and sounds; they can make and hear high pitched sounds
Lifespan Around 18 months in the wild
Diet Insects and invertebrates; larch sawflies are a major portion of their diet
Adaptations Their fur coloration helps them stay camouflaged and hidden from predators; a common defense mechanism for shrews (including this species) is the secretion of a musky odor from its sides
Predators Great-horned owls
IUCN Conservation Status Least Concern

Behavior

  • Arctic shrews lead a solitary lifestyle.
  • They are active both during the day and the night. When they rest they lie on the ground either on a side or their ventral surface on the ground, rolling their body up with the head tucked into it.
  • They become territorial when they attain adulthood.

Mating & Reproduction

Despite limited information on the mating habits of Arctic shrews, it can be safely inferred that theirs’ is similar to that of other shrew species. Females have 1 or 2 litter each year, each consisting of 4-10 offspring. The gestation period ranges between 13 and 21 days.

Arctic Shrew Baby

Arctic Shrew Pictures

Life-cycle

The young are nursed until they are around 20-24 days old. They reach sexual maturity after one year.

Interesting Facts

  • They are voracious eaters, having to eat constantly because of their quick metabolism.
  • The maritime shrew and the tundra shrew were both considered subspecies of the Arctic shrew, but each has been assigned their individual species since.
  • An anthropomorphic Arctic shrew can be seen in the 2016 Walt Disney animated film, Zootopia. Its name is Mr. Big in the movie.

References:

  1. https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Sorex_arcticus/
  2. https://eol.org/pages/116235
  3. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/41385/115182930
  4. http://elelur.com/mammals/arctic-shrew.html

Published on May 31st 2018 by Sudipto Chakrabarti under Coniferous Forest Animals.
Article was last reviewed on 5th December 2022.

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