Asian House Shrew (Suncus murinus) lives in tropical urban areas across Southeast Asia. It feeds on insects and worms. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
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The Asian house shrew is the largest shrew species, weighing between 50 g and 100 g and measuring about 15 cm from snout to tail tip. Its coat is a uniform, short, dense fur that ranges from mid-grey to brownish-grey, giving it a sleek appearance. Short legs end in five clawed toes, helping it move swiftly over ground and walls. These physical traits combine to make it a compact yet robust predator among shrews.
When alarmed the shrew emits an ear-piercing, high-pitched shriek that sounds like nails on a chalkboard, a noise that repels house cats and discourages other predators. In addition, it releases a strong musk odour from glands visible on each side of its body, a scent that most predators avoid. This combination of sound and smell often spares the shrew from being captured or eaten. Consequently, even if caught by mistake, predators rarely consume it.
The shrew darts quickly along the edges of walls inside homes, producing a rapid chattering noise that resembles jingling coins. This distinctive sound has earned it the nickname "money shrew" in China. It is primarily nocturnal, spending daylight hours hidden in burrows or other shelter within human habitations. The audible chatter and night-time activity make it a familiar, if noisy, presence in many dwellings.
The Asian house shrew has been introduced to many islands and is considered an invasive species implicated in the disappearance of several native lizard species. Humans have carried it beyond its native South and Southeast Asian range to eastern Africa, Arabia, Madagascar, the Philippines and other islands across the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Its spread is aided by its ability to live in human habitations, where it readily finds shelter and food.
Observations suggest the shrew may bite a chick's tendon, immobilising it before killing and eating, hinting at a venomous bite that paralyses prey. It is known to occasionally kill young chicks, which makes it unpopular with farmers despite rats usually causing more loss. The described method of tendon-biting mirrors the paralysing bites recorded in the Eurasian water shrew and the Northern short-tailed shrew, two other shrew species with venomous saliva.
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In the warm, humid underbrush of Asian forests, the Asian House Shrew darts with frenetic energy, its tiny paws barely touching the ground as it pursues its relentless quest for insects and seeds. With eyes shining like dark jewels, this diminutive predator navigates the labyrinthine world of leaf litter and ferns, its pointed snout twitching as it detects the faintest whispers of movement. As it forages, the shrew's sleek, grey-brown coat blends seamlessly into the dappled shadows, rendering it all but invisible as it goes about its busy, secret life.
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