A musky-scented shrew so closely associated with human dwellings in Asia that in many languages of the region it is known simply as the "house shrew"; it has spread across much of the world on board ships since historical times.
Robust body and a long, pointed snout, with a characteristic musky odour that reveals its presence even before it is seen. There is marked sexual size dimorphism between males and females.
Tracks and signs include nests built in concealed areas of houses and businesses using any available loose material. In woodland, it constructs nests from leaves and other plant material in hidden cavities such as fallen logs.
A wide variety of habitats, from woodland to agricultural areas and heavily developed sites across much of Asia, with introduced populations in East Africa, the Middle East, and numerous islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
Insectivorous; feeds on small invertebrates and occasionally human food scraps.
A regular human commensal, nesting in houses and businesses. It breeds throughout the year, peaking in spring and summer, with litters of four to eight young born after a gestation of about 30 days.
A species with a vast distribution and a large population, showing no signs of decline. Introduced to numerous regions outside its native range, where it may pose a growing ecological threat to local fauna.
No threats to the species itself; on the contrary, its introduction poses a documented threat to native fauna in several regions where it has established itself.
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