SHREWS

  •  There are more than 200 species of shrew.
  •  Some species of shrew are reported to eat their own faeces and perhaps those of other creatures.
    •  Shrews often fall prey to larger night hunters, such as owls, cats or even badgers.
    •  Show rely heavily on their senses of smell and hearing when hunting: their eyes are tiny and probably of little use.
    •  Shrews have stinks glands that deter other animals from eating them - the taste disgusting!
    •  The Pygmy white-tailed shrew is usually regarded as the world's smallest terrestrial mammal, and it weighs about 2g (0.07 oz)
    •  At a signal from their mother, young shrews form a line. Each holds the tail of the one infront in its mouth as they head for safety.
    •  Water shrews are known to overpower frogs and small fish which they kill venomous bite - the saliva of many shrews contains strong toxins.
    •  The pygmy shrew has to eat almost its own weight each day, just to stay alive.

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