The smoky shrew (''Sorex fumeus'') is a medium-sized

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shrew Shrews (family Soricidae) are small mole-like mammals classified in the order Eulipotyphla. True shrews are not to be confused with treeshrews, otter shrews, elephant shrews, West Indies shrews, or marsupial shrews, which belong to different fa ...

found in eastern

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and the northeastern

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and extends further south along the

Appalachian Mountains The Appalachian Mountains, often called the Appalachians, (french: Appalaches), are a system of mountains in eastern to northeastern North America. The Appalachians first formed roughly 480 million years ago during the Ordovician Period. They ...

Subspecies

This species has two recognized subspecies: *''Sorex fumeus fumeus'' *''Sorex fumeus umbrosus''

Description

The smoky shrew is active year-round. It is dull grey in colour with lighter underparts and a long tail which is brown on top and yellowish underneath. During winter, its fur is grey. Its body is about in length including a long tail and it weighs about .

Habitat and ecology

This animal is found near streams in cool damp deciduous and mixed woods. It makes extensive, solitary, burrows in the leaf litter on the forest floor or builds globular nests of plant materials under rocks. The smoky shrew rarely digs tunnels, instead it uses tunnels created by moles or other shrews. Its diet consists mainly of beetles, however other insects, earthworms, snails, small rodents and other soil dwelling invertebrates are also taken. It also consumes plant material to supplement its diet. Predators include owls, snakes, foxes, weasels, and mustelids.

Reproduction

Smoky shrews start mating in late March, and females give birth to their first litters in April or May, about 20 days after mating. They mate again as soon as the first litter is born, and they may have 2 more litters, each about a month apart, if the female lives long enough. Each litter has 2 to 8 pups, usually 6. In one month, the offspring weigh around 4 grams which is half of the adult weight. Male smoky shrews don't take care of their offspring, only the female does. Females make nests in leaf litter where they give birth. The offspring are blind, helpless, and have no fur. Females nurse and protect their offspring for a short time (less than 20 days).

Social behavior

No information exists about the social organization of the smoky shrew. Some field biologists, noting the abundance of the species in some areas and its absence in others, have suggested the smoky shrew is colonial. However, their data remain inconclusive, and may reflect a tendency for smoky shrews to achieve dense populations within pockets of suitable habitat instead of exhibiting a complex social structure Smoky shrews are quite vocal although the form and function of the vocal repertoire are not well known. Individuals "twitter" while foraging, and give high-pitched grating noises when alarmed.

References

*"Smoky Shrew (Sorex Fumeus Miller)." Smoky Shrew. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Apr. 2015. * * * Sorex Mammals described in 1895 {{redtoothed-shrew-stub