The pygmy shrew is the smallest of all Northern Ireland's mammals and is quite common. It has a long narrow snout that it uses in its feverish and perpetual search for food. They are very secretive creatures and are not often seen. Pygmy shrews are active both day and night and must eat at least their own body weight of food every day.

SPECIES DESCRIPTION: The pygmy shrew is immediately identifiable by its small size and its narrow pointed flexible snout. The fur is very dense and brown in colour with a paler underside. The teeth have red tips due to a deposition of iron. Pygmy shrews have very good senses of hearing, touch and smell but have quite poor eyesight. An adult weighs about 6g when in good condition. The head and body length is 40-60mm and the tail is about 32-46mm long. Pygmy shrews breed from April to August of their second year. The female gives birth to several litters of about 4-7 young. Pregnancy and lactation periods each last about 20 days. Out of the breeding season, males and females generally live solitary lives. Pygmy shrews must eat at least their own body weight of food every day to survive and therefore they are active both day and night.

KEY IDENTIFICATION FEATURES:

• Narrow pointed flexible snout
• Long whiskers, small eyes and medium-length slender tail
• 40-60mm in length
• Red tips to the teeth
  

© Jon Russ 2001. Text refereed by Angela Ross & Lynne Rendle.

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