HOUSE-SHREW OR MUSK SHREW

 HOUSE-SHREW OR MUSK SHREW 

Local name : Bhukharu Chhachhundar, Kasturi chhachhundar, Andhi chichi 

Physical measurements & life cycle :

 Length : 15-25 cm 

Weight : 150-200 gm. On an average, females are smaller than males. 

 Maturity : 2-3 months

 Litter size : 2-3 

Life span :12 months

 Description

 Looks like a small rat. It has a short tail that has very sharp thin hairs on its tip. It has dark golden- brownish colour and pointed snout

Food

Insects, food grains etc.

Distribution 

Throughout Gujarat. 

Habitat

It prefers to inhabit human populated areas and agricultural fields.  

Behaviour

There are two glands on either sides of male which releases musk-  like smell during breeding period. 

Signs of presence : 

Fecal pellets (droppings) resembling flat tablets that get whiter when dry.

The shrew is not a rodent though its appearance is somewhat similar to a long-nosed mouse. Shrews have feet with five clawed toes, unlike rodents, which have four. There are 376 species of shrew in 26 genera species of shrews occur all over the world. All shrews are small, mostly no more The House shrew (Suncus than mouse size murinus) of tropical Asia is the largest (15 cm long and weighs around 100 gm) shrew in the world; whereas the Etruscan shrew (Suncus etruscus) (about 3.5 cm long and 2 gm in weight) is one of the smallest living mammals.