{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Taxon",
  "slug": "shrew",
  "name": "Common Shrew",
  "scientificName": "Sorex araneus",
  "category": "Mammal",
  "summary": "The common shrew (Sorex araneus) is a tiny, insect-eating mammal found in woodlands, gardens, and grasslands across Europe. Weighing just 5–15 g and measuring around 8 cm, it is one of the continent's smallest mammals, with a pointed snout, velvety fur, and a ferocious appetite. Shrews live fast and die young, rarely surviving beyond one to two years in the wild.",
  "conservationStatus": "Least Concern",
  "taxonomy": {
    "kingdom": "Animalia",
    "phylum": "Chordata",
    "class": "Mammalia",
    "order": "Eulipotyphla",
    "family": "Soricidae",
    "genus": "Sorex"
  },
  "stats": {
    "weightKg": 0.01,
    "lengthM": 0.08,
    "topSpeedKmh": 8,
    "lifespanYears": 2
  },
  "facts": [
    {
      "label": "Scientific name",
      "value": "Sorex araneus"
    },
    {
      "label": "Diet",
      "value": "Insectivore — insects, worms, slugs, and spiders"
    },
    {
      "label": "Habitat",
      "value": "Woodlands, gardens, and grassland across Europe"
    },
    {
      "label": "Lifespan",
      "value": "1–2 years in the wild (rarely exceeds 2)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Weight",
      "value": "5–15 g (0.005–0.015 kg); one of Europe's smallest mammals"
    },
    {
      "label": "Top speed",
      "value": "Up to 8 km/h (5 mph); constant active foraging"
    },
    {
      "label": "Conservation status",
      "value": "Least Concern (IUCN)"
    }
  ],
  "range": {
    "nativeRange": "Common shrew across Britain, Europe, and western Russia in woodlands, gardens, and grassland.",
    "continents": [
      "Europe"
    ]
  },
  "sources": [
    {
      "citation": "IUCN Red List — Sorex araneus.",
      "url": "https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=Sorex%20araneus&searchType=species"
    },
    {
      "citation": "Animal Diversity Web — Sorex araneus. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.",
      "url": "https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Sorex_araneus/"
    }
  ],
  "lastReviewed": "2026-07-16",
  "canonicalUrl": "https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/shrew/",
  "license": {
    "name": "CC BY-NC 4.0",
    "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
    "attribution": "Global Animal Guide — https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/shrew/",
    "note": "Free to reuse for non-commercial purposes with attribution and a link back to the canonical page."
  }
}