the water-shrew is our biggest native shrew. Full-grown copies gain a weight of almost 20 g and become between 6 and 10 cm long. The underside of the once again 4,5-7,5 cm long tail is equipped with a bristle-keel, that supports the swimming-movements of the tail. During this close to relative, somewhat smaller swamp-shrew (Neomys anomalus) this bristle-hem is missing (difference), both types swimming-bristles possess at the rear-feet. The bristles have the same function as the swimming-skins with bigger animals.
The fur of the upper side of this small, nimble insectivore is black, more rarely going in into the Dunkelkastanienbraun, and satin shiny. The coloring of the stomach-side is variable, silver-knows usually however until dark-gray, sometimes with a brownish touch.
Way of life The water-shrew is to be found near all water-types. it lives on small ditches equally at the shores like at big rivers, in tearing mountain-brooks like in quiet ponds.
The living spaces lie directly at the shore. Usually, it doesn't build themselves its subterranean hiding places but takes on an abandoned mole-construction or expels a mouse-family from its apartment. The holes are always enlarged to the water by an exit, however. Other exits are in shore-proximity under herbs, stones or undergrowth somewhere. Jump this small black hunter into the water, seems so to be it become to a silvery diver momentarily. The long protection-hairs of the dense fur hold on to the air and let the body become wet. The air-cushion surrounds the whole shrew like a silvery bell. The air presses the animal however again and again at the surface, so that rows it powerfully and must paddle in order to come to the reason. Therefore, the water-shrews frequently make a correct dive for the water in order to win faster at depth.
Food it sharpens, always moved nose feels under stones and plants and scans edible also according to the ground.
With preference, the water-shrew eats insect-larvae, flea-cancers and Gliederwürmer, however it doesn't spare also fish and frog-spawn. Admittedly she only more rarely succeed once with attaining bigger loot, however it becomes its only in possession, so also big newts and frogs must, yes even full-grown fish at it believes. The loot immediately is towed at country and is usually killed first here.
Always, the shrew is on the way. One can see it jumping around between ice floes in the winter. More than the other shrews, the water-shrew is active also on the day. Albeit so one resulted in the impression, that it is the most active in the evening-hours, action-attempts as observers, that the action-periods over the whole day are distributed, with an increase in the morning twilight-hours.
Reproduction The combination-game of the water-shrews belongs to the most interesting nature-observations, that one can do with us. they actually are extremely unsociable like almost all insectivores and fight each Artgenossen gotten into the own precinct severely. Meetings itself males and females at the combination-time, it seems so as the male pursues a trouble-maker angrily and wants for it at the life. The female tries at first to avoid the prosecutions of the male, runs along at the shore in order to then escape seemingly with a jump into the water. But also under water, the wild chase continues until the male partner succeeds with driving the female again at country. After long prelude, it then is finally willing to consent to the mating. Soon, both then are together peaceful in the water and dive unremittingly for loot.
2-3-once, the female can get boy in the year. The combination-time is between April and September. It turns 4-8, maybe even 11 kids born. The Tragzeit lies with at least 24 days. The boys become in the subterranean one 1-11/2 months, suckled padded nest with foliage, moss and grass. Boy born in the spring still becomes sexually mature in the same year.
Free-living water-shrews become hardly more than 11/2 years old.
Endangering The water-shrew is on the red list of the endangered types with us.
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