The American Manatee

The Arizona Shrew (Sorex arizonae) is a small animal, often mistaken for a mouse or other small rodent. It is actually listed as an insectivore, which is basically a tiny mammal that feeds on insects. It was first found and collected in Arizona, where it is on the list of Wildlife of Special Concern by the Arizona Department of Game and Fish.

The Arizona Shrew is found only in the mountain ranges of Arizona, New Mexico, and Mexico. It usually lives in canyons surrounded by evergreen forests, and the undergrowth and ground cover of these forests is the perfect place for these tiny animals to hide and forage.

Shrews are tiny, the smallest land-living mammal on the planet. The Arizona Shrew is actually considered a medium-sized shrew and grows to be about 4 inches long, weighing approximately 0.2 ounces. It has a thick, soft covering of fur, which tends to be brown to brownish-gray with lighter fur on its underbelly. Its snout is pointed with a mouthful of sharp, pointy teeth used to pierce their prey. They have long tails, small eyes, and small, almost invisible ears.

Arizona Shrews feed mostly on insects but have been known to go after bigger prey, sometimes feeding on other shrews, spiders, larvae, and earthworms. There is some venom in their saliva, which is used when hunting larger animals, like mice. Shrews are very busy animals and must eat over double their own body weight every day just to stay alive. They use echoes to track their prey, and the high-pitched noises they produce often confuse their prey and make it easier for the shrew to capture and subdue them.

Female shrews reach sexual maturity at around three months of age. They give birth to a litter of up to seven young shrews after a gestational period of 20-25 days. The young are weaned after about 22-25 days, and the mother then teaches them how to hunt and survive. They often travel in a sort of caravan, with each animal holding on to the long tail of the animal in front of them. This allows them to explore and discover their environment while not losing track of their mother. Arizona Shrews are actively hunting and foraging all year long, and their estimated life span is only about one year.

Arizona Shrews have a defense against predators - a gland that gives off an offensive musk and makes them undesirable as prey. The only predators not affected by this are owls, who hunt the shrews regularly.

Further Information on the Arizona Shrew:

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