49. Pygmy Shrew

17 October 2010, 12:00am

1 min read

Its full name is ‘Pygmy White-toothed Shrew’, quite a mouthful for such a tiny animal - indeed it's one of the smallest mammals on the planet. At first glance it you would think it's a mouse, and some still call it "gurdien" in Maltese. This is incorrect, as the pygmy shrew (M: bugeddum) is not a rodent, and about as related to mice as you or I! Shrews are widespread and inhabit various habitats, from coasts to people's gardens and homes. Their diminutive size (they are half the size of a mouse) and skulking, often nocturnal habits mean that they are not often seen by people. Shrews are not vermin and cause no damage to property - on the contrary, they are considered beneficial as they rid us of undesirable trespassers like slugs and cockroaches. Shrews are in fact protected by law. The pygmy shrew is not present in Gozo, where there is a different species which in turn does not occur on the Maltese mainland.

Text by Victor Falzon, photo by Ray Galea.