| In spite of its widespread distribution, the Southeastern Shrew remained very poorly known until a new trapping method, the pitfall trap, came into use in the 1970s and 1980s. Pitfall traps are traps sunk into the ground: small mammals fall into them and cannot escape. Since then, we have learned the species can be common in some habitats, but even today few people have seen a Southeastern Shrew alive. This shrew prefers spending a lot of time in the underground burrows of other animals, and under the leaf litter. As with other shrews, it hunts day and night, and preys on small invertebrates. Small spiders are its most important food. A Southeastern Shrew lucky enough to die of old age would expire at about 14 months, and if female, may have produced as many as three litters, each averaging 4 young.
Sexual Dimorphism:
None
Length:
Range:
77-102 mm
Weight:
Average:
3.3 g
Range:
2-5.8 g
References:
Bachman, J., 1837. Some Remarks on the Genus Sorex, with a monograph of the North American Species, p.370. Journal of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, 7:362-402.
Links:
Mammal Species of the World
Click here for The American Society of Mammalogists species account
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