Species: Neurotrichus gibbsii
Shrew-mole
Species
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Encyclopedia of Puget Sound
Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Craniata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Soricomorpha
Family
Talpidae
Genus
Neurotrichus
NatureServe
Classification
Other Global Common Names
American Shrew-mole - Gibb's Shrew-mole - taupe naine
Informal Taxonomy
Animals, Vertebrates - Mammals - Other Mammals
Formal Taxonomy
Animalia - Craniata - Mammalia - Soricomorpha - Talpidae - Neurotrichus - Three subspecies (GIBBSII, HYACINTHINUS, and MINOR) were recognized by Hall (1981) and Carraway and Verts (1991).
Ecology and Life History
Migration
true - false - false
Non-migrant
true
Locally Migrant
false
Food Comments
May consume more than its own body weight in food in one day. Feeds primarily on earthworms, gastropods, centipedes, sowbugs, insects, and other invertebrates. Also eats some plant seeds, fungi, and lichens. Sightless; detects prey with snout.
Reproduction Comments
Most breeding occurs from early March to mid-May, but even then only a few percent of specimens are in breeding condition. Length of gestation not known. Litter size varies from 1-4 young. Newborns altricial. Reported to have an XO system of sex determination.
Ecology Comments
Seems to be more social than other insectivores; may travel in loose bands (Dalquest and Orcutt 1942, Maser et al. 1981). Population density in favorable habitat estimated at 12-15/ha (but up to 247/ha after removal of all other small mammals) (Dalquest and Orcutt 1942).
Length
13
Weight
11
Conservation Status
NatureServe Global Status Rank
G5
Global Status Last Reviewed
1996-11-04
Global Status Last Changed
1996-11-04
Other Status
LC - Least concern
Distribution
Conservation Status Map
<img src="http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/servlet/GetMapGif?CA.BC=S4&US.CA=SNR&US.OR=S4&US.WA=S5" alt="Conservation Status Map" style="width: 475px; height: auto;" />
Global Range
Northwestern North America, from southwestern British Columbia (Fraser River region) south through western Washington (including Destruction Island), western Oregon, and western California to Fremont Peak, Monterey County. To 2440 m in Washington.