As both the common and scientific names suggest (minutus means small), the pygmy shrew is tiny (2), in fact it is the smallest native British shrew (4). It has a pointed snout and greyish-brown fur that becomes paler on the underside (2). Compared to other species of British shrews, the pygmy shrew has a relatively longer, hairier tail (4). Like other shrews of the genus Sorex, this species has red-tipped teeth, formed by the deposition of iron, which toughens them against wear-and-tear (4).