Home › Mammalia › Soricidae › Masked Shrew (Sorex caecutiens)
SPECIES PROFILE
Masked Shrew (Sorex caecutiens)
Sorex
IUCN STATUS
Least Concern
CONSERVATION STATUS
Least Concern
CLASS
Mammalia
GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE
Northern Europe & Asia
DIET
Insectivorous
HABITAT
Damp woodland, meadows
🔬 Classification
PHYLUM
Chordata
CLASS
Mammalia
ORDER
Eulipotyphla
FAMILY
Soricidae
GENUS
Sorex
📋 Description
SIZE
5-7 cm body, 5-9 g
COLORATION
Brown, pale underside
ADAPTATIONS
Venomous saliva
🌿 Ecology
HABITAT
Damp woodland, meadows
DIET
Insectivorous
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE
Northern Europe & Asia
REPRODUCTION
4-8 young
DIET DETAILS
Insects, spiders
⚠️ Threats & Conservation
PRIMARY THREATS
Habitat loss
💡 Interesting Facts
1
Also called Laxmann’s shrew, it is very widespread but extremely cryptic. It produces high-pitched calls and is active both day and night.
2
It is one of the most common shrews in northern forests yet almost never seen without trapping.
🔭 Sighting Guide
📍 BEST PLACES TO SIGHT
Lapland Finland
Lake District UK
Cairngorms Scotland UK
🗓️ BEST TIME TO SIGHT
Year-round
🎯 SIGHTING TIPS
Check runs in mossy woodland; listen for squeaks.
