What kind of animal is the Tokyo shrew? We will explain its characteristics, ecology, and habitat. Please note that although the name is Tokyo, the area where you actually live is completely different. This rat is extremely rare and is listed as an endangered species.
What is the Tokyo shrew? About basic status
The Tokyo shrew is a mammalian mole belonging to the genus Shrew, in the order Truececalidae and family Shrewidae. The scientific name is Sorex minutissimus hawkeri. It is an extremely small animal with a body length of only 45-49mm, a tail length of about 27-31mm, and a weight of about 1.5-1.8g.
| Japanese（和名） | トウキョウトガリネズミ |
| English（英名） | Hawker’s least shrew |
| scientific name(学名) | Sorex minutissimus hawkeri |
| classification（分類） | Mammalia、 Eulipotyphla、 Soricidae、Sorex 哺乳綱、真無盲腸目、トガリネズミ科、トガリネズミ属 |
| IUCN Status(保全状況) | VULNERABLE |
| Length（体長） | 45-49mm |
| Weight（体重） | 1.5-1.8g |
What is the origin of the name?
When it comes to the Tokyo shrew, it is common to recognize it as a creature of Tokyo. But why? It dates back to 1903. This animal was discovered during this period, but its name comes from the fact that the discoverer, Hawker, mistakenly wrote Yedo (Edo) on the specimen label instead of writing ‘Yezo’ (Ezo). There are also subspecies. The great-footed shrew is the largest species in Japan, and there are also the Ezo shrew and the Japanese shrew.
About habitat
The Tokyo shrew inhabits Hokkaido’s Horonobe Town, Sarufutsu Village, Shiranuka Town, Nemuro City, Shikaoi Town, and Mikasa City.
feature is? What kind of creature is it?
The Tokyo shrew has a pointed nose and small eyes, and although it has the word “mouse” in its name, it is a member of the mole family. The Tokyo shrew is the world’s smallest mammal, with large, mole-like hands that live underground in holes. Therefore, there are times when you cannot see it on the ground. Because of their small size, they have the characteristic of repeatedly feeding and resting every 30 minutes.
What is the ecology like?
The Tokyo shrew is poisonous and is used for hunting. This poison paralyzes enemies and allows it to move quickly to catch insects larger than itself. The main food is insects. The lifespan of the Tokyo shrew is said to be 1 to 2 years. There are still many mysteries regarding ecology. This has not been elucidated by research.
Is the Tokyo shrew an endangered species?
The Tokyo shrew is listed as an endangered species on Japan’s Hokkaido Red List. The Tokyo shrew is listed on the Ministry of the Environment’s Red List. In the first place, they are in a critical situation because their numbers are small.
Is it possible to keep Tokyo shrews?
The ecology of the Tokyo shrew is still a mystery, and it is also poisonous, so we do not recommend raising it easily.
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