Shrews

Shrews ? Family Sorcidae General Characteristics hind feet larger than forefeet ear pinnae present but under-developed and hidden in fur no zygomatic arches greatly inflated braincase auditory bullae absent ? tympanic rings instead black or brown tooth enamel 1 pair of incisors, 4/5 pairs of unicuspids, 4 pairs of ?molars? G. Sorex ? Long-tailed Shrews General Characteristics long tail roughly same length as body separation based roughly on the size of certain unicuspid teeth all members have 5 pairs of unicuspids Sorex cinereus, Masked Shrew brownish-gray or dark brown, paler underparts TWO-TONED tail about length of body minus the head peg-like 5th upper molar, all unicuspids similar in size Sorex arcticus, Arctic Shrew black dorsally, brown sides, paler gray under parts TRI-COLORED unicuspids relatively large larger than masked and pygmy shrews 5 unicuspids Sorex palustris, Water Shrew largest of the sorex longest tail, half total length of specimen color is slate gray to nearly black on top, brownish-gray below hind foot relatively large with fringed hairs along edges BI-COLORED relatively small unicuspids 3rd unicuspids slightly smaller than 4th pair Long-tailed Shrews Microsorex hoyi, Pygmy Shrew cannot be differentiated from masked shrew without skull 3rd and 4th unicuspids are extremely tiny and disc-like Blarine brevicauda, Short-tailed Shrew largest and most abundant shrew slate gray or lead-gray to nearly black above, lighter under short tail (1/5 total length) flatter, less bulbous braincase 3 ridges on top of skull*** thorn-like lateral process** small 5th unicuspid tooth Cryptotis parva, Least Shrew smallest short tail** never more than twice the hind foot length brownish-gray above, whitish gray below rostrum is broad only shrew with 30 teeth 4 unicuspids instead of 5 last upper unicuspid is minute and wedged between 3rd uni and 1st molar