Short-tailed Shrew (Noun)
Meaning
North American shrew with tail less than half its body length.
Classification
Nouns denoting animals.
Examples
- The short-tailed shrew, a North American mammal, gets its name from its distinctive tail, which is less than half the length of its body.
- Short-tailed shrews are known for their ability to produce a toxic saliva that helps protect them from predators.
- During the winter months, short-tailed shrews will often move their nests to underground burrows to escape harsh weather conditions.
- Due to their fast metabolism, short-tailed shrews must eat constantly, consuming a variety of insects and small invertebrates.
- In the wild, short-tailed shrews have an average lifespan of about 12-18 months, although they may live longer in captivity.