| Sorex Temporal range: LateMiocene to recent | |
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| Cinereous shrew (Sorex cinereus) | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Eulipotyphla |
| Family: | Soricidae |
| Subfamily: | Soricinae |
| Tribe: | Soricini G. Fischer, 1814 |
| Genus: | Sorex Linnaeus,1758 |
| Type species | |
| Sorex araneus Linnaeus, 1758 | |
| Species | |
See text | |
| Synonyms | |
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ThegenusSorex includes many of the commonshrews ofEurasia andNorth America, and contains at least 142 known species and subspecies. Members of this genus, known aslong-tailed shrews, are the only members of the tribeSoricini of the subfamily Soricinae (red-toothed shrews). They have 32 teeth.
These animals have long, pointed snouts, small ears, which are often not visible, and scent glands located on the sides of their bodies. As their eyesight is generally poor, they rely on hearing and smell to locate their prey, mainly insects. Some species also useecholocation. Distinguishing between species without examining the dental pattern is often difficult.
In some species, a female shrew and her dependent young form "caravans", in which each shrew grasps the rear of the shrew in front, when changing location.
