Soricidae

Over thirty species of shrews in the family Soricidae are present in the United States, representing four genera—Blarina, Cryptotis, Notiosorex, and Sorex. This page attempts to provide a standardized side-by-side comparison of interspecific variation (variation that occurs when comparing individuals of differing species), which can be helpful for identification. Standardized images for some species are not available, yet. For species not represented with an image here, images from the field are typically available on the individual species pages. Adults in summer pelage are shown unless otherwise noted.

Blarina (short-tailed shrews)

Blarina are relatively large shrews with short tails. Where their ranges overlap, they can be difficult to differentiate without careful measurement of size. In some areas, they may only be able to be differentiated using molecular methods. Both Blarina peninsulae and Blarina shermani are similar in appearance to Blarina carolinensis and were once considered subspecies of Blarina carolinensis.

Northern Short-tailed Shrew (Blarina brevicauda)
Southern Short-tailed Shrew (Blarina carolinensis)
Elliot's Short-tailed Shrew (Blarina hylophaga)
Everglades Short-tailed Shrew (Blarina peninsulae)
Sherman's Short-tailed Shrew (Blarina shermani)

Cryptotis

Cryptotis are small shrews with very short tails and small ears that are often not clearly visible. Species not pictured: Berlandier's Least Shrew (Cryptotis berlandieri) and Florida Least Shrew (Cryptotis floridanus). Cryptotis berlandieri and Cryptotis floridanus were previously considered subspecies of Cryptotis parvus. Both species are similar in appearance, but average slightly larger than Cryptotis parvus.

North American Least Shrew (Cryptotis parvus)

Notiosorex

Notiosorex are small, generally gray shrews with short tails and relatively large ears that are clearly visible. Species not pictured: Ticul's Gray Shrew (Notiosorex tataticuli). Notiosorex cockrumi and Notiosorex tataticuli are similar in appearance to Notiosorex crawfordii. Notiosorex cockrumi was recognized by Baker et al. (2003) as species separate from Notiosorex crawfordi. Notiosorex tataticuli was recognized as a separate species by Camargo & Álvarez-Castañeda (2020), based on populations previously attributed to Notiosorex crawfordi.

Desert Gray Shrew (Notiosorex crawfordi)
Cockrum's Gray Shrew (Notiosorex cockrumi)

Sorex (long-tailed shrews)

Members of Sorex have long tails, as the common name implies. For identification, note the difference in overall size, tail length, and coloration (dorsal, ventral, tail). However, use caution as color is not always a reliable character for differentiating between some Sorex species, particularly S. monticolus, S. obscurus, S. ornatus, and S. vagrans. Some species of Sorex may only be differentiated through careful examination of the teeth, comparison of skull measurements, or with the use of molecular methods. Confidently differentiating between S. cinereus and S. haydeni is accomplished only through genetic testing or karyotype analysis. Notice that S. tundrensis, S. ugyunak, and S. minutissimus have a bicolored or tricolored appearance. S. arcticus is also tricolored throughout much (but not all) of its range. S. trowbridgii is typically more dark gray in appearance but can lean toward brownish in parts of its range, such as California. Sorex longirostris and S. sonomae have a reddish dorsal coloration. Species not pictured: Eastern Water Shrew (Sorex albibarbis), Arizona Shrew (Sorex arizonae), Saint Lawrence Island Shrew (Sorex jacksoni), Pribilof Island Shrew (Sorex pribilofensis).

Arctic Shrew (Sorex arcticus). Adults are dark chocolate brown to blackish in color on their backs; sides are lighter brown; undersides are a pale gray-brown to whittish. The demarcation between each color is sharply distinct. Juveniles are generally browner than adults and bicolored.
Marsh Shrew (Sorex bendirii). Blackish shrew with underparts usually as dark as the upper parts. Slight fringe of stiff hairs on the hind toes. On the Olympic Peninsula of Washington the underparts may be whitish.
Masked Shrew (Sorex cinereus). Typically brown to dark grayish-brown. Dorsal and ventral coloration varies across the range of the species with some individuals appearing indistinctly tricolored, yellowish, or reddish.
Masked Shrew (Sorex cinereus). Dorsal and ventral coloration varies across the range of the species with some individuals appearing indistinctly tricolored, yellowish, or reddish.
Rock Shrew (Sorex dispar). Dorsal pelage is slate gray to brownish and ventral pelage is slightly paler.
Western Pygmy Shrew (Sorex eximius). Dorsal coloration ranges from dark brown to reddish brown to gray-brown, shading to slightly paler on the venter.
Maryland Shrew (Sorex fontinalis). Dorsal coloration is brown and ventral coloration is paler. Similar in appearance to Sorex cinereus.
Smoky Shrew (Sorex fumeus). Coloration of this shrew varies seasonally and is brownish in summer and dark gray to almost black in winter.
Prairie Shrew (Sorex haydeni). Brown dorsum, slightly paler sides, and whitish venter that is occasionally washed with yellow.
Eastern Pygmy Shrew (Sorex hoyi). Small reddish brown to grayish brown shrew. Ventral coloration is lighter, ranging from grayish to buffy brown.
Southeastern Shrew (Sorex longirostris). Dorsum is warm, rich brown to cinnamon brown.
Southeastern Shrew (Sorex longirostris), subspecies eionis (dark chestnut brown) found only in portions of Florida. Very dark chestnut dorsally, becoming lighter and richer on the sides.
Mount Lyell Shrew (Sorex lyelli). Upper parts brownish; underparts pale olive-gray or smoke-gray.
Eurasian Least Shrew (Sorex minutissimus). The pelage is slightly tricolored with the dorsum being brownish, the flanks near hair gray, and the ventrum pale smoke gray.
Merriam's Shrew (Sorex merriami)
Southern Montane Shrew (Sorex monticolus)
Dwarf Shrew (Sorex nanus)
Western Water Shrew (Sorex navigator), note scale bar; this is a large shrew
Northern Montane Shrew (Sorex obscurus)
Ornate Shrew (Sorex ornatus)
Pacific Shrew (Sorex pacificus)
American Water Shrew (Sorex palustris)
Preble's Shrew (Sorex preblei).
Olympic Shrew (Sorex rohweri). Dorsal coloration is brown in the summer and dark gray in the winter.
Fog Shrew (Sorex sonomae)
Inyo Shrew (Sorex tenellus)
Trowbridge's Shrew (Sorex trowbridgii)
Tundra Shrew (Sorex tundrensis)
Tundra Shrew (Sorex tundrensis), subadult
Barren Ground Shrew (Sorex ugyunak)
Vagrant Shrew (Sorex vagrans), adult in summer coloration
Vagrant Shrew (Sorex vagrans), adult in winter coloration, almost complete molt