Creature of the day: The Etruscan Shrew The Etruscan shrew, also known as the Etruscan pygmy shrew, white-toothed pygmy shrew and Savi’s pygmy shrew, is the smallest known extant mammal by mass, weighing only about 1.8 g on average. The Etruscan shrew has a body length of about 4 cm excluding the tail. The largest threat to Etruscan shrews originates from human activities, particularly destruction of their nesting grounds and habitats as a result of farming. Etruscan shrews are also sensitive to

The short-eared elephant shrew, or sengi, is a small insect-eating mammal with a long, flexible snout that helps it sniff out bugs and other tiny prey. Despite their name, these curious creatures aren’t actually shrews at all. They’re more closely related to elephants, aardvarks, and manatees. Known for their speed and agility, they can sprint up to 18 miles per hour to escape predators. Fun fact: Short-eared elephant shrews build intricate networks of narrow trails through grass and underbrush,