Valais Shrew (Sorex antinorii) lives in alpine mountain meadows across Southern European Alps. It feeds on insects and worms. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
Fascinating facts about the Valais Shrew
- The Valais shrew carries 24 or 25 chromosomes, with a fundamental number of 40, recorded as 2n = 24/25 and FN = 40. This karyotype pattern is noted as the species' genetic blueprint, indicating the total chromosome count and the number of chromosomal arms. Until 2002, scientists regarded it merely as a chromosomal race of the wide-ranging S. araneus, a view that changed when detailed genetic analysis highlighted its distinctiveness.
- It was not recognised as its own species until 2002; before that scientists treated it as just a chromosomal variant of the common shrew. The earlier view labelled it a race of S. araneus, reflecting the belief that its genetic makeup did not merit species status. Genetic studies published that year revealed consistent differences in chromosome number and structure, prompting taxonomists to elevate it to full species rank.
- In Italy the shrew is present everywhere except the southern Apulia region, giving it an almost nationwide distribution. This exclusion marks the only gap in its otherwise continuous range across the peninsula, while it also extends into neighbouring southeastern France and southern Switzerland. The species thrives in habitats with dense vegetation throughout this area, occupying elevations from sea level up to 1,300 metres.
- Beyond Italy, the Valais shrew also occurs in southeastern France and southern Switzerland, extending its range into neighbouring countries. It is most often encountered in areas where vegetation is thick and continuous, providing cover and foraging opportunities. Within this habitat it occupies a broad elevational band, from sea level up to 1,300 metres, allowing it to exploit both lowland and montane environments.
- The shrew favours thick ground cover and can be found from sea level up to 1,300 metres, thriving in dense vegetation across that altitude band. Its habitat span is recorded as 0-1,300 m (0-4,265 ft).
Sources
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At a glance
RangeSouthern European Alps
HabitatAlpine mountain meadows
DietInsects and worms
About the Valais Shrew
In the shadowy undergrowth of the European Alps, the Valais shrew darts and weaves with frenetic energy, its tiny paws barely touching the forest floor as it pursues an endless quest for insects and seeds. With a metabolism that burns brighter than a wildfire, this diminutive creature must consume its own body weight in food every day, driving it to move with a frenzied intensity that is both mesmerizing and exhausting to behold. As it vanishes into the dense thicket, its high-pitched squeaks echo through the stillness, a testament to the boundless vitality of this smallest of predators.
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