Water shrew (United Kingdom), Water shrew
The Eurasian water shrew (Neomys fodiens ), known in the United Kingdom as the water shrew, is a relatively large shrew, up to 10 cm (4 in) long, with a tail up to three-quarters as long again. It has short, dark fur, often with a few white tufts, a white belly, and a few stiff hairs around the feet and tail. It lives close to fresh water, hunting aquatic prey in the water and nearby. Its fur traps bubbles of air in the water which greatly aids its buoyancy, but requires it to anchor itself to remain underwater for more than the briefest of dives.
Like many shrews, the water shrew has venomous saliva, making it one of the few venomous mammals, although it is not able to puncture the skin of large animals, nor that of humans. Highly territorial, it lives a solitary life and is found throughout the northern part of Europe and Asia, from Britain to Korea.
Di
DiurnalDiurnal animals are active during the daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. The timing of activity by an animal depends ...
No
NocturnalNocturnality is an animal behavior characterized by being active during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal",...
Ca
CarnivoreA carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of a...
Vi
ViviparousAmong animals, viviparity is the development of the embryo inside the body of the parent. The term 'viviparity' and its adjective form 'viviparous'...
Bu
BurrowingA burrow is a hole or tunnel excavated into the ground by an animal to create a space suitable for habitation, temporary refuge, or as a byproduct ...
Te
TerritorialA territory is a sociographical area that which an animal consistently defends against the conspecific competition (or, occasionally, against anima...
Se
SemiaquaticSemiaquatic animals are those that are primarily or partly terrestrial but that spend a large amount of time swimming or otherwise occupied in wate...
Pr
PredatorPredators are animals that kill and eat other organisms, their prey. Predators may actively search for or pursue prey or wait for it, often conceal...
Po
PolygynandryPolygynandry is a mating system in which both males and females have multiple mating partners during a breeding season.
Ve
VenomousVenom is a type of poison, especially one secreted by an animal. It is delivered in a bite, sting, or similar action. Venom has evolved in terrestr...
So
SolitaryNo
Not a migrantAnimals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents.
E
starts withThe Eurasian water shrew is a large mole-like mammal. It has dense short fur on the head and back and the sides are greyish-black. The underparts are dirty white and are sharply demarcated from the dorsal surface. Sometimes they are tinged with rusty brown or occasionally are entirely dark grey. There is a white spot just behind the eye and often another near the small, rounded ear which is nearly hidden in the fur. The nose is black and the snout is long and tapering. Its sharp, mostly white teeth are tipped with red. This rusty color comes from deposits of iron which serve to harden the enamel and are concentrated in the tips of the teeth, particularly the molars which are the teeth most subject to wear. The legs are short and the hind feet are powerful, with a fringe of short, stiff hairs on the outer edge, both of which features assist while it is driving its body through the water. The tail is slender and has a keel of short white hairs on the underside.
Eurasian water shrews are found throughout Europe with the exception of Iceland, Ireland, certain Mediterranean islands, and the Balkans. In Asia, their range extends from western Siberia and Asia Minor to North Korea and the Pacific coast of Siberia. They rarely stray far from water and are found in and around ditches, streams, bogs, marshes, ponds, watercress beds, fish ponds, damp meadows, and rough bushy ground adjoining water.
Eurasian water shrews are solitary animals that try to avoid each other and there is no social hierarchy. Outside the breeding season, both males and females maintain a territory but during the breeding season, only the females do so. At this time the males wander about visiting various female territories. Eurasian water shrews are active both night and day. They are home in the water and catch prey while swimming. They can remain underwater for 20 seconds before they have to surface to breathe. When Eurasian water shrews catch larger prey they subdue it with toxic secretions from their submaxillary glands. They have a pair of glands under their jaws that produce venom; their venom is lethal at a minimum dose of 15 milligrams per kilogram body weight. When not in the water, Eurasian water shrews shelter in one of their many burrows and often utter shrill cries as they scurry about.
Eurasian water shrews are carnivores. Their diet includes crayfish, water snails, small fish, aquatic larvae, insects, spiders, amphibians, especially newts and small rodents. They also feed on insect larvae.
Eurasian water shrews have a polygynandrous (promiscuous) mating system, meaning both the males and the females have multiple partners and don’t form pairs. Their breeding season extends from April to September and much of the courtship takes place in the water. They either use pre-existing burrows or dig their own. The nesting chamber is lined with moss, dry grass, and leaves. Females can produce 2 or 3 litters a year. Litters consist of 4 to 8 or more young that are born after a 24-day gestation period. The young are tiny and helpless at birth. Their eyes open at 15 to 18 days and they are fully weaned at about 7 weeks of age. The juveniles disperse after weaning, setting up their own territories. They become reproductively mature at 6 to 8 months of age.
Eurasian water shrews are not threatened but in some areas they suffer from habitat degradation and wetlands are being drained. Other possible threats include agricultural products and sewage which may pollute waterways and reduce the availability of food.
The IUCN Red List and other sources don’t provide the number of the Eurasian water shrew total population size. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are stable.
