Head to head
Northern Short-Tailed Shrew vs Eurasian Water Shrew
The northern short-tailed shrew and Eurasian water shrew are both among the small handful of venomous mammals on Earth, but each puts its toxic bite to a different use.
| Northern Short-Tailed Shrew | Eurasian Water Shrew | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Blarina brevicauda | Neomys fodiens |
| Use of venom | Paralyses prey for later storage | Overpowers larger prey immediately |
| Native range | Eastern North America | Europe and parts of Asia |
| Lifestyle | Terrestrial, largely subterranean | Semi-aquatic |
| Notable behaviour | Caches live, paralysed prey | Hunts frogs and small fish |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Population trend | Stable | Stable |
| Habitat | Forest, grassland | Wetlands, forest |
Northern Short-Tailed Shrew vs Eurasian Water Shrew: common questions
Why do both of these shrews have venomous bites?
Both species rank among the very small handful of venomous mammals alive, using their toxic bite to gain an advantage over prey that would otherwise be difficult to subdue, though the northern short-tailed shrew uses its venom mainly to paralyse prey for later storage while the Eurasian water shrew uses it to overpower larger prey immediately.
What is unusual about how the northern short-tailed shrew uses its venom?
This species sometimes stores paralysed but still-living prey in underground caches, effectively creating a living pantry of food that stays fresh until needed, a food-storage strategy not documented in the Eurasian water shrew, which instead consumes subdued prey more immediately.
Do both shrews live in the same type of habitat?
No, the northern short-tailed shrew is largely terrestrial and subterranean, native to forest and grassland habitat in eastern North America, while the Eurasian water shrew is semi-aquatic, hunting in and around streams and wetlands across Europe and parts of Asia.