Species MammalsPygmy Shrew

Pygmy Shrew

Sorex hoyi

UncommonMammal
Illustration of Pygmy Shrew (Sorex hoyi)

The Pygmy Shrew is one of the smallest mammals in the world, with adults sometimes weighing less than a dime. Despite its tiny size, it must eat 1.25 times its body weight daily and hunts continuously with barely a pause for rest. Its heart beats up to 1,200 times per minute when active—among the fastest heart rates of any mammal.

Habitat
Boreal forests, grassy areas, and mossy tundra
Diet
Insects, larvae, and other small invertebrates
How common
Uncommon

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