Sorex

Sorex
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Shrew


Vagrant Shrew
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Mammalia
Order:Insectivora
Family:Soricidae
Genus:Sorex
Species

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The genus Sorex is a group of mainly land-dwelling shrews with relatively long tails which includes many of the common shrews of Europe and North America. They are red-toothed shrews; species in this group have 32 teeth.

These animals have long pointed snouts, small ears which are often not visible and scent glands located on the side of the body. As their eyesight is general poor, they rely on hearing and smell to locate their prey, mainly insects. Some species also use echolocation. It is often difficult to distinguish between species without examining the dental pattern.

In some species, a female shrew and her dependent young form "caravans" where each shrew grasps the rear of the shrew in front when changing location.

The list of species is:

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See also: Sorex