American pygmy shrew

American pygmy shrew[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Eulipotyphla
Family: Soricidae
Genus: Sorex
Species:
S. hoyi
Binomial name
Sorex hoyi
Baird, 1857[3]
American pygmy shrew range

The American pygmy shrew (Sorex hoyi), also called the eastern pygmy shrew,[4] is a small shrew found throughout much of Alaska,[5] Canada,[6] and the northern contiguous United States, as well as south along the Appalachian Mountains[7] and in a small region in the Colorado and Wyoming Rockies.[8] The species was first discovered in 1831 by naturalist William Cane in Georgian Bay, Parry Sound.[citation needed]

This animal is found in northern coniferous and deciduous forests of North America. It is believed to be the second-smallest mammal in the world, but has an extremely large appetite for its size. Due to its fast metabolism, it needs to eat constantly. It digs through moist soils and decaying leaf litter for food.

  1. ^ Hutterer, R. (2005). Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 289. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
  2. ^ Cassola, F. (2017) [errata version of 2016 assessment]. "Sorex hoyi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T41400A115183871. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T41400A22312472.en. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  3. ^ Baird, Spencer F. (1857). "Mammals". Reports of explorations and surveys, to ascertain the most practicable and economical route for a railroad from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean. Vol. 8. Washington: Beverly Tucker. pp. 32–33.
  4. ^ "Sorex hoyi - Eastern Pygmy Shrew". explorer.natureserve.org. NatureServe. 2024-07-05. Archived from the original on 2024-07-11. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  5. ^ Jung, Thomas S.; Pretzlaw, Troy D.; Nagorsen, David W. (2007). "Northern range extension of the pygmy shrew, Sorex hoyi, in the Yukon". The Canadian Field-Naturalist. 121: 94. doi:10.22621/cfn.v121i1.402. Retrieved 2015-11-19.
  6. ^ Ford, W. Mark; Laerm, Joshua; Chapman, Brian R. Pygmy Shrew (PDF) (Report). U.S. Forest Service. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
  7. ^ Saunders, D. A. (1988). "Pygmy Shrew". Adirondack Mammals. New York: State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry. Archived from the original on 2024-07-20. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
  8. ^ Beauvais, Gary P.; McCumber, Jacob (2006-11-30). Pygmy Shrew (Sorex hoyi): a technical conservation assessment (PDF) (Report). U.S. Forest Service. p. 3. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2023-06-28.