Water shrews
| Water shrews | ||||||||||||
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Marsh shrew ( Neomys anomalus ) |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Neomys | ||||||||||||
| Kaup , 1829 |
The neomys ( Neomys ) are a living in Europe and northern Asia mammal species from the family of shrews (Soricidae). Of the three species in this genus, two, the water shrew ( N. fodiens ) and the swamp shrew ( N. anomalus ) also live in Central Europe.
features
Water shrews are adapted to an aquatic way of life. On the toes there is a fringe of bristle-like hair, which, like webbed feet, enables fast progress in the water. The water shrew, but not the swamp shrew, has similar bristles on the underside of the tail. The ears are small and almost completely hidden in the fur. The fur is short and dense, it is gray-brown to black on the upper side, the underside is lighter, often white. These animals reach head body lengths of 7 to 10 centimeters, a tail length of 4.5 to 8 centimeters and a weight of 12 to 18 grams.
distribution and habitat
The distribution area of the water shrews covers large parts of Europe and northern Asia , it extends in the east to the Pacific coast and also includes Asia Minor . They are usually found near bodies of water such as lakes, rivers or swamp regions.
Way of life
Water shrews are skilled swimmers and divers and often look for food in the water. They retire to rest in burrows that they have either dug themselves or taken over from other small mammals. They can be both diurnal and nocturnal and, like most shrews, are predominantly solitary. The diet consists of both invertebrates (such as insect larvae) and small vertebrates (such as fish and frogs).
The species
The genus of water shrews is divided into three types:
- The water shrew ( Neomys fodiens ) is the largest species and is distributed from Western Europe to the Siberian Pacific coast.
- The marsh shrew ( Neomys anomalus ) is smaller and less adapted to aquatic life. It occurs predominantly in Southeastern Europe and is found less often in Western and Central Europe.
- The Caucasian brook shrew ( Neomys teres (formerly known as N. schelkovnikovi )) is native to the Caucasus region and Asia Minor .
The American water shrew ( Sorex palustris ) and the Asian water shrew (genus Chimarrogale ) do not belong to this genus.
literature
- Ronald M. Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World . 2 volumes. 6th edition. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD et al. 1999, ISBN 0-8018-5789-9 .
- Don E. Wilson , DeeAnn M. Reeder (Eds.): Mammal Species of the World . A taxonomic and geographic Reference. 2 volumes. 3. Edition. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2005, ISBN 0-8018-8221-4 .
Web links
- Endangerment level of the individual species in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species .