Common shrew  (Sorex araneus)

The common shrew, one of Britain's most abundant mammals has a long, flexible snout, tiny ears and small eyes typical of most shrews (2). The fur is dark brown on the back, with paler brown flanks and a pale belly (1). Juveniles have lighter fur until they undergo their first moult, after which their winter coat grows (3). This species is a 'red-toothed shrew'; iron is deposited in the enamel of the crowns of the teeth, making them more resistant to wear-and-tear (3). The Latin name araneus means 'spider'; this refers to the old belief that shrews were poisonous, like spiders.