Suncus etruscus
Dublin Core
Title
Suncus etruscus
Subject
Taxonomy
Kingdom : Animalia
Phylum : Chordata
Class : Mammalia
Order : Eulipotyphla
Family : Soricidae
Genus : Suncus
Species : Suncus etruscus
Kingdom : Animalia
Phylum : Chordata
Class : Mammalia
Order : Eulipotyphla
Family : Soricidae
Genus : Suncus
Species : Suncus etruscus
Common Name/ Vernacular Name
Etruscan shrew, Etruscan pygmy shrew, white-toothed pygmy shrew, Cencurut Terkecil (Malay)
Etruscan shrew, Etruscan pygmy shrew, white-toothed pygmy shrew, Cencurut Terkecil (Malay)
Description
Morphology and Physical Description
The Etruscan shrew has a body length of about 4 cm excluding the tail. It is characterized by very rapid movements and a fast metabolism, eating about 1.5–2 times its own body weight per day.These shrews prefer warm and damp climates and are widely distributed in the belt between 10° and 30°N latitude stretching from Europe and North Africa up to Malaysia.
The Etruscan shrew has a body length of about 4 cm excluding the tail. It is characterized by very rapid movements and a fast metabolism, eating about 1.5–2 times its own body weight per day.These shrews prefer warm and damp climates and are widely distributed in the belt between 10° and 30°N latitude stretching from Europe and North Africa up to Malaysia.
Habitat and Ecology
Living on a diet of small insects, this species hunt actively for a few hours and then rests throuhout the day and night. it relies on it speed to hunt prey that is slower than itself. it also scavenge on dead insects.
Living on a diet of small insects, this species hunt actively for a few hours and then rests throuhout the day and night. it relies on it speed to hunt prey that is slower than itself. it also scavenge on dead insects.
Economic Importance
The importance of Suncus etruscus to humans in not known, aside from their importance as members of healthy ecosystems.
The importance of Suncus etruscus to humans in not known, aside from their importance as members of healthy ecosystems.
Ecosystem Role
Shrews are food for predators such as owls, and probably play a large role in controlling insect populations.
Shrews are food for predators such as owls, and probably play a large role in controlling insect populations.
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Least Concern
Least Concern
Creator
Suncus etruscus (Savi, 1822)
Source
Publisher
Intan Rabitah Mustafa
Contributor
Intan Rabitah Mustafa
Language
English
Collection
Citation
Suncus etruscus (Savi, 1822), “Suncus etruscus,” BIDARA, accessed July 16, 2025, https://bidara.uthm.edu.my/items/show/8.