• Adult total length: 4 1/2 - 3/4 in. (110 - 132 mm)

• Tail: 2 - 2 3/8 in. (50 - 59 mm)

• Hind foot: 5/8 in. (13 - 16.5 mm)

• Weight: 1/10 - 1/4 oz. (4 - 8 g)

• Physical Characteristics: The long-tailed shrew is a medium-sized shrew with slate-gray pelage. The underparts may be slightly paler than the back. The long, thick, sparsely haired tail is nearly uniform in color, being blackish above and only slightly paler below. The feet are whitish. Shrews possess long tapering snouts and tiny eyes and ears. Hearing and smell are acute. The tips of the incisor teeth are dark chestnut in color. Shrews have five toes on each foot.

left lateral view of skull and mandible	dorsal view of skull	ventral view of skull

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Phylogeny

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Geographic distribution

The long-tailed shrew inhabits the mountains from New Brunswick, Canada, south to Tennessee and North Carolina.

• Range Maps

  North America	Great Smokies

• Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Long-tailed shrews are found primarily at the higher elevations in the park, although several have been recorded in Greenbrier.
  • Sevier Co.: Greenbrier (2,200 feet); Fort Harry Cliffs ( 3,200 feet); along the West Prong of the Little Pigeon River (3,700 - 4,700 feet);Trout Branch; Walker Prong (4,400 - 4,500 feet); Newfound Gap Road, 1/4 mile northwest of Newfound Gap.

  • Swain Co.: Newfound Gap Road ( 4,400 feet ); Forney Ridge parking area (6,400 feet); Clingmans Dome (6,642 feet ).

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Habitat

Preferred habitat for these shrews include talus slopes and rock slides in both deciduous and coniferous forests. They have been collected in man-made artificial talus created by road-building in park. They also inhabit the subterranean tunnels that occur in the rocky crevices between boulders and sometimes have been taken beneath moss-covered logs in damp coniferous forests.

Individuals in the park have been recorded feeding on beetles and spiders.

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Conservation Biology

• Special Protection Status
  • Rangewide: The long-tailed shrew has been designated as a species of "state concern" in North Carolina.

  • In Park: All plants and animals are protected within Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Collection requires a permit which is usually granted only for research or educational purposes.

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Links to Other Sites

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References

Discover Life | All Living Things | IDnature guides | Mammalia | Soricidae | Sorex | dispar