Common Shrew "Sorex araneus castaneus"
Fierce predator, Shrews live life fast and need to eat every couple of hours. Shrews can eat up to 4 times their bodyweight in a 36 hour period. They will eat worms, beetles, slugs etc. Agressive males often fight to the death .
They are not on the menu for several predators as they apparently taste nasty.
Chaseview Lane Stafford UK 5th March 2013
They don't only taste nasty but are second most venomous vertebrae in Britain after the Adder. Their saliva is quite toxic, their bite is very painful and irritating and the toxin when ingested by predators is supposed to be an emetic.
Shrews also have a very high heart rate, one of the fastest for the relative size. thanks Mic and Favemark for the extra info.
Common Shrew "Sorex araneus castaneus"
Fierce predator, Shrews live life fast and need to eat every couple of hours. Shrews can eat up to 4 times their bodyweight in a 36 hour period. They will eat worms, beetles, slugs etc. Agressive males often fight to the death .
They are not on the menu for several predators as they apparently taste nasty.
Chaseview Lane Stafford UK 5th March 2013
They don't only taste nasty but are second most venomous vertebrae in Britain after the Adder. Their saliva is quite toxic, their bite is very painful and irritating and the toxin when ingested by predators is supposed to be an emetic.
Shrews also have a very high heart rate, one of the fastest for the relative size. thanks Mic and Favemark for the extra info.