Prairie Shrew

Taxobox
name = Prairie ShrewMSW3 Hutterer | pages = 288-289]
status = LR/lc
status_system = iucn2.3
status_ref = IUCN2006|assessors=Insectivore Specialist Group|year=1996|id=41399|title=Sorex haydeni|downloaded=12 May 2006 Database entry includes a brief justification of why this species is of least concern]
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Mammalia
ordo = Soricomorpha
familia = Soricidae
genus = "Sorex"
species = "S. haydeni"
binomial = "Sorex haydeni"
binomial_authority = Baird, 1857

The Prairie Shrew ("Sorex haydeni") is a small shrew found in the Canadian prairies and midwestern United States. At one time, this species was considered to be a subspecies of the similar Cinereus Shrew, "S. cinereus".

It is brown in colour with light grey underparts with a long tail. Its body is about 8 cm in length including a 3 cm long tail. It weighs about 4 g.

This animal is found in open grasslands, often near water.

It eats insects, worms, snails, small mammals and seeds. Predators include hawks, owls, snakes, and foxes.

This animal is active day and night year-round. It mates between spring and fall. 3 to 6 young are born in a nest under a log or rocks.

References