Southern Short-tailed Shrew (Mammals of Alabama)

Southern Short-tailed Shrew

Blarina carolinensis

Summary ⁷

The southern short-tailed shrew (Blarina carolinensis) is a small, gray, short-tailed mammal that inhabits the eastern United States. The overall appearance is somewhat like a rodent, but is a member of the order Soricomorpha and should not be confused with a member of the order Rodentia. This shrew has a long, pointed snout and ears that are nearly concealed by its soft, dense fur. This shrew is found in forests and meadows where food and cover...

Description ⁸

The Southern Short-tailed Shrew is a highly active, primarily nocturnal predator. It is most common in moist, well-drained hardwood forests or pine stands, especially where deep organic litter provides easy burrowing for shelter and food. These shrews eat snails, butterfly and beetle larvae, ants, and small soil-living invertebrates. The Southern Short-tailed Shrew is preyed upon by many species, ranging from snakes to hawks to foxes and coyotes. Barn owls also eat these small animals, and regurgitate their skeletal and fur remains in the form of pellets; the pellets are a rich source of information for field biologists. This species is so similar to other short-tailed shrews that even experts cannot distinguish them easily, and must rely on a laboratory count of chromosomes to tell them apart.

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Mammal Species of the World