Trowbridge's Shrew

About the Trowbridge's Shrew

Trowbridge's shrew (Sorex trowbridgii) is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is found in southern British Columbia in Canada and in Washington, Oregon, and California in the United States. Trowbridge's shrew was first described in the scientific literature in 1857 by Spencer Fullerton Baird, in a report of surveys and explorations conducted to find a suitable route for a railroad from the Mississippi to the Pacific Ocean. The scientific name given was Sorex trowbridgii. The generic name Sorex is Latin, meaning "shrew-mouse." The species name "trowbridgii" is a patronym to honor William Petit Trowbridge. The type locality for the species is Astoria, Oregon. Baird's initial record describes four specimens made available to him. The first two were provided by Trowbridge. They were skins that had been collected by "Jas. Wayne" in June 1855. The other two specimens were collected by George Suckley at Fort Steilacoom in 1856. Those two specimens were preserved in alcohol prior to submission to Baird.

Trowbridge's shrew is a medium-sized shrew with a long tail. Non-breeding shrews weigh around 3.8 g (0.13 oz) while breeding shrews average... Wikipedia →