Common Shrew
Sorex araneus
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassMammalia (Mamífers)
- OrderSoricomorpha
- FamilySoricidae (Shrews)
- GenusSorex (Long-tailed Shrews)
- SpeciesSorex araneus (Common Shrew)
The common shrew (Sorex araneus), also known as the Eurasian shrew, is the most common shrew, and one of the most common mammals, throughout Northern Europe, including Great Britain, but excluding Ireland. It is 55 to 82 millimetres (2.2 to 3.2 in) long and weighs 5 to 12 grams (0.2 to 0.4 oz), and has velvety dark brown fur with a pale underside. It is one of the rare venomous mammals. Juvenile shrews have lighter fur until their first moult. The common shrew has small eyes, a pointed, mobile snout and red-tipped teeth. It has a life span of approximately 14 months. Wikipedia →
10–20% of wildlife watchers report a Common Shrew sighting in Snowdonia National Park, based on 22 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Snowdonia National Park
📅 Monthly Probability
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Snowdonia National Park | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | |
| 2 | Białowieża National Park | 🇵🇱 Poland | |
| 3 | Cairngorms National Park | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | |
| 4 | Wadden Sea National Park | 🇩🇪 Germany | |
| 5 | Gauja National Park | 🇱🇻 Latvia | |
| 6 | Tatra National Park | 🇸🇰 Slovakia | |
| 7 | Biebrza National Park | 🇵🇱 Poland | |
| 8 | Bavarian Forest National Park | 🇩🇪 Germany | |
| 9 | Fertő-Hanság National Park | 🇭🇺 Hungary | |
| 10 | Pyrénées National Park | 🇫🇷 France |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Common Shrew in Snowdonia National Park?
About 17% of wildlife watchers report a Common Shrew sighting in Snowdonia National Park, based on 22 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Common Shrew in Snowdonia National Park?
August has the highest sighting rate for Common Shrew in Snowdonia National Park in our monthly data.