Sylvisorex | |
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Lesser forest shrew (Sylvisorex oriundus) (lower image) | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Eulipotyphla |
Family: | Soricidae |
Subfamily: | Crocidurinae |
Genus: | Sylvisorex Thomas, 1904 |
Type species | |
Crocidura morio |
The forest shrews are the members of the genus Sylvisorex. They are mammals in the family Soricidae[1] and are found only in Africa. The genus name comes from the Latin world "silva" which means "forest" and "sorex", which means "shrew-mouse". This reflects the nature of these shrews, which prefer forest habitats. All shrews are carnivorous, and eat continually to satisfy their high metabolic rate.[2]
The genus contains these species: