North American water shrew
Quick Summary
The North American water shrew (Sorex palustris) is a small, amphibious mammal found in western North America. It is the least specialized of the water shrew species, foraging both on land and in streams.1
Key characteristics include:
* Adaptations for water: It possesses dense, water-repellent fur for insulation and uses its hind feet for propulsion while swimming. Its sensitive whiskers help it locate prey underwater by touch, as its sense of smell and sight are less developed.1
* Diet: Its diet consists of aquatic and terrestrial insects, earthworms, snails, slugs, vegetation, mice, fish, and salamanders.1
* Behavior: It can stay submerged for up to 45 seconds and can even skim across the water's surface.1
Water shrews belong to the family Soricidae, which are small mammals often referred to as insectivores.2
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