#eulipotyphla

African Giant Shrew Crocidura olivieri

It has a wide distribution in sub-Saharan Africa as well as the Nile Valley. This species was first described from mummified specimens, found at Sakkara in Ancient Egyptian tombs. To the ancient Egyptians, the shrew represented the nocturnal side of Horus.

Cuban Solenodon Atopogale cubana

Also called the almiquí, it is endemic to Cuba. It lives in burrows and is only active at night when it uses its unusual toxic saliva to feed on insects. The solenodons, native to the Caribbean, are one of only a few mammals that are venomous. The Cuban solenodon is endangered and was once considered extinct due to its rarity.

Dracula Shrew Crocidura dracula

It is found in Vietnam, Laos, and adjacent southern China, with possible range extension into Cambodia east of the Mekong River. Because it is so visually similar to the Southeast Asian shrew, it has historically been considered part of the same species complex and the range delineation between the two species is still being resolved. Recent genetic evidence strongly supports that the Dracula shrew is in fact a uniquely diverged species.

Crowned Shrew Sorex coronatus

It is found in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Liechtenstein, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, and the British island of Jersey. It is almost indistinguishable from the common shrew; its habits and habitats are identical. However it has a different karyotype, is slightly smaller, and has small morphological differences, such as a longer rostrum (upper tooth-row and mandible) relative to length of skull.

Obscure White-toothed Shrew Crocidura obscurior

It is found in Ivory Coast, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is a close relative of the Ivory Coast white-toothed shrew.

Smoky Shrew Sorex fumeus

Found in eastern Canada and the northeastern United States and further south along the Appalachian Mountains, near streams in cool damp deciduous and mixed woods. It makes extensive, solitary, burrows in the leaf litter on the forest floor or builds globular nests 10–15 cm of plant materials under rocks. Smoky shrews are quite vocal although the form and function of the vocal repertoire are not well known. Individuals "twitter" while foraging, and give high-pitched grating noises when alarmed.

Slender Shrew Sorex gracillimus

It is distributed across northeastern North Korea, Hokkaidō, and the Russian Far East including the Kuril Islands. This species inhabits grasslands and coniferous forests on lowland and low mountain regions. It can also occur in large bamboo stands. It mainly feeds on invertebrates found in the surface litter and soil.

Arizona shrew Sorex arizonae

A shrew found in Arizona and New Mexico, United States, and in Mexico. They are found in mountainous areas including the Chiricahua, Huachuca, Santa Rica, Animas, and Sierra Madre occidental, in conifer forest and Mexican oak-pine woodland.

Least Concern