Cornwall Mammal Group
Shrew Appeal
Have you seen a greater white-toothed shrew?
In 2022, DNA analysis by the Mammal Society of a shrew carcass found in Sunderland (NE England) showed that the Greater white-toothed shrew (GWTS) (Crocidura russula) was present in the UK. Further photographic evidence suggests the species has been present there since around 2015 (see First records of the greater white-toothed shrew Crocidura russula from Great Britain).
The GWTS is native to Europe, North Africa and some Channel Islands, and is very similar in size to our native common shrew. In Ireland, they are known to be an invasive species and outcompete our native pygmy shrew. To assess if the GWTS are doing the same in Great Britain, we need to track where they are and how they are impacting our native small mammals. At Cornwall Mammal Group, we are particularly interested to see whether the species has reached Cornwall.
Identifying Greater white-toothed shrews
Key distinguishing features of Greater white-toothed shrews are:
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Long, pointed nose
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Prominent ears
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Reddish greyish brown fur on the dorsal side, with lighter brown fur on the ventral side
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Distinctive white teeth (see image), missing the red-iron-rich tips shown by other shrew species
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60-90mm long, weighing between 5 and 14g
Click on the posters below to read more.
Confusion species
Other British shrews that you might see include:
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Common shrew – brown on top (dorsal) with a pale belly and intermediate flanks
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Pygmy shrew – tiny body (5cm) with a tail of a similar length. Brown on top with a pale belly
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Water shrew – large shrew (10cm) with a black coat, white belly, and often little white ear tufts
How do I record them?
Shrews are often brought in by cats or occasionally found dead on pathways. If you come across any shrews, you can contact us with photographs and this will help us to understand the distribution of this new arrival and also our native species. If you think it might be a white-toothed shrew please keep the animal if possible and we will arrange collection. We are equally interested in any bone discoveries, so please also contact us if you find any shrew bones in owl pellet dissections.
The Mammal Society are running a country-wide scheme, and are asking for records via Mammal Mapper (photographs of dead or living shrews), MammalWeb (camera trap footage) or through their Volunteer Owl Pellet Dissection scheme. More info at https://www.mammal.org.uk/searching-for-shrews/.