Wildlifeof Mongolia
Taiga Shrew
Soricidae
Photo: (c) Марат Адиев, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY 4.0 (May be cropped or resized)
Sorex isodon
Basic stats
Diet
Small invertebrates such as earthworms, arachnids, insects and their larvae; rarely carrion
Habitat
Taiga or forested mountain ranges; always damp, often with pronounced ground vegetation
Range
From the east coast of the Baltic across northern Russia (except tundra) to Lake Baikal and the Baekdu-daegan mountains of Korea
Litter size
5–8 young
The taiga shrew is a shrew of northern Eurasia. As its name suggests, it lives in the taiga or on forest-covered mountain ranges, and its habitat is always damp and often has pronounced ground vegetation. Its range extends from the east coast of the Baltic across northern Russia, except the tundra, to Lake Baikal and the Baekdu-daegan mountains of the Korean Peninsula. In rare cases individuals have been found in Sweden and Norway. (German Wikipedia, general species account)
It feeds on small invertebrates such as earthworms, arachnids and insects and their larvae, and rarely on carrion. Females can breed three times a year, with litters of five to eight young that mostly mature only after successfully overwintering, though young occasionally mate in the same year. Life expectancy is one to one and a half years, and the main cause of death is tooth wear. (German Wikipedia, general species account)
Quick answers
- What does the Taiga Shrew eat?
- Small invertebrates such as earthworms, arachnids, insects and their larvae; rarely carrion
- What habitat does the Taiga Shrew live in?
- Taiga or forested mountain ranges; always damp, often with pronounced ground vegetation
- Where is the Taiga Shrew found?
- From the east coast of the Baltic across northern Russia (except tundra) to Lake Baikal and the Baekdu-daegan mountains of Korea
- What is the litter size of the Taiga Shrew?
- 5–8 young