Old World water shrew

The Old World water shrew is an amphibious mammal belonging to the shrew family (Soricidae). These shrews are adapted for life in and around clear, cold streams and rivers. They possess a broad muzzle, large chest, and long hind legs for swimming, with their hind feet providing most of the propulsion. Their dense, water-repellent fur traps air for insulation.12

Water shrews primarily rely on their sensitive whiskers to locate prey underwater, as their sense of smell and sight are less developed. Some species, like the North American water shrew, can also skitter across water surfaces. Old World water shrews, such as those in the genus Neomys, produce toxic saliva to immobilize prey. They are active hunters, consuming insects, invertebrates, and sometimes small vertebrates.13