| Iberian water shrew | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Eulipotyphla |
| Family: | Soricidae |
| Genus: | Neomys |
| Species: | N. anomalus |
| Binomial name | |
| Neomys anomalus Cabrera, 1907 | |
The Iberian water shrew (Neomys anomalus) is a species of mammal in the insectivore family Soricidae. [1] [2]
The Iberian water shrew is found in France, Portugal, and Spain. [1]
Neomys anomalus was previously used in a broader sense for the Mediterranean water shrew, which had two subspecies: Neomys anomalus anomalus in the Iberian peninsula and Neomys anomalus millerii with a wide distribution from western Europe to southwest Asia. [3] Following a phylogenetic analysis, the two subspecies were recognised as distinct species, Neomys anomalus for the Iberian species and Neomys milleri for the more widely distributed species. [1] [2] The most recent conservation assessment of broadly defined species for The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species gave a conservation status of Least Concern, [3] but the Iberian water shrew has not been assessed separately.
It feeds mainly on amphibians and small fish, but also take insects and worms. Because of its small size and thus higher surface area to volume ratio, it loses body heat more quickly and must eat two or three times its body mass each day.
The Eurasian water shrew, known in the United Kingdom as the water shrew, is a relatively large shrew, up to 10 cm (4 in) long, with a tail up to three-quarters as long again. It has short, dark fur, often with a few white tufts, a white belly, and a few stiff hairs around the feet and tail. It lives close to fresh water, hunting aquatic prey in the water and nearby. Its fur traps bubbles of air in the water which greatly aids its buoyancy, but requires it to anchor itself to remain underwater for more than the briefest of dives.
The Mediterranean, Southern or Miller's water shrew is a species of insectivoran mammal in the family Soricidae.
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