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Shrews are not only small animals, their venom can kill 200 mice, did you know?
Shrews are members of a family of small, mole-like mammals and should not be confused with tree shrews, sea otter shrews, or other animals. Although they look like small, long-nosed mice, they are actually more closely related to hedgehogs and moles.
There are more than 385 known shrew species in the world, ranking fourth among all mammal families, second only to rodents and bats. Shrews are found almost all over the world, and the only areas without shrews include New Guinea, Australia, and parts of South America. However, as the American continent changed, some naturalized shrew populations also appeared in the Andes Mountains of northern South America.
Characteristics of shrews
Shrews are usually small in size. The largest species, such as the Asian house shrew, are about 15 centimeters long. In contrast, the Etruscan shrew is the smallest terrestrial mammal, only 3.5 centimeters long and weighing 1.8 centimeters. gram. They live in a variety of habitats, and while they primarily hunt for seeds, insects, and other food on the ground, some species specialize in hunting in the trees, underground, under the snow, and even in the water.
Shrews have small eyes and poor vision, but their sense of smell and hearing are extremely sensitive. These small animals have extremely high metabolic rates and require almost constant eating to maintain energy. Even in a breeding environment, they can eat 1/2 to 2 times their own body weight every day.
It is worth noting that shrews do not hibernate, but some species can enter a brief hypometabolic state to survive the cold.
These unique mammals also display impressive reproductive rates, with females giving birth to up to ten litters per year and often nursing their newborns simultaneously during pregnancy.
The toxicity of shrews
A surprising fact about shrews is that many species are actually poisonous. Unlike other mammals, the shrew's venom is not injected by the canine teeth, but enters the wound through the oil grooves of the teeth. The venom contains a variety of compounds, some of which have even shown potential in research into hypertension and certain neuromuscular diseases.
In fact, the venom produced by the American short-tailed shrew can kill 200 mice through intravenous injection, which is a very rare phenomenon among mammals.
In addition, the soricidin peptide contained in the saliva of the northern short-tailed shrew has also attracted attention for the treatment of ovarian cancer. These scientific studies certainly make shrews an area of the animal kingdom worth learning more about.
Echo location capability
What makes shrews even more unique is their ability to echolocate, which is extremely rare among terrestrial mammals. These shrews emit ultrasonic screams and use the reflected sound to sense their surroundings. Unlike bats' precise positioning, shrews' echolocation is about better understanding habitat types rather than pinpointing prey. In this regard, their hearing is like the human experience of listening to sounds in different spaces, which is extremely clever and subtle.
Conclusion
Then, as our understanding of shrews improves, many curiosities remain to be discovered. These little lives not only play an important role in ecology, but also show possible potential in the medical field. Are you thinking about how many other animals hide secrets that we have not yet discovered?
