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SHREWS
Shrews are small, short-legged, mouse-like mammals, with long,
wedge-shaped snouts, very small eyes and short ears. All eat insects
and other invertebrates (and occasionally small vertebrates). They
may be active day and night. At times they reach quite high densities,
but they are mainly solitary creatures.
For their size, shrews are very aggressive and at least some species
vigorously defend territories. They occupy many different habitats, but
most species are associated with damp and moist locations. In desert
areas they may occupy oases, wadi bottoms and mountainous terrain
with pools. Breeding of these interesting insectivores has been little
studied in the region, but many are probably not seasonal breeders,
especially at lower altitudes. Gestation periods vary between 17 and
28 days; litters range from 2 to 10 pups, which are sheltered in a nest
of dry plant material.
How many species of shrew occur across the region is a topic of
debate, but conservatively there are at least 22. The majority belong
to the genus Crocidura (white-toothed shrews) with 17 species, Sorex
(long-tailed shrews) with 2 species and Neomys (water shrews) with 1
species. Although difficult to identify to species level by layperson and
scientist alike, all shrews are easily recognizable as shrews.
Savi’s Pygmy Shrew (Suncus etruscus) This is one of the two smallest
mammals in the world, weighing just 2.5 g with a length of about 7
cm. It has a wide distribution in the region.
House Shrew (Suncus murinus) This is one of the largest shrews in
the region, with a length of up to 24 cm and a weight of up to 100 g
in some parts of its range (in the region about 30 g). It was probably
introduced accidentally from southern Asia and is now commonly
associated with coastal towns in Egypt, around the Arabian Peninsula
and Iran. It freely enters houses, as suggested by its common name.