Conserving and restoring at risk species and ecosystems on the BC South Coast
Pacific Water Shrew
Sorex bendirii
Of the 12 species of the family Soricidae (“shrews”), in BC, S. bendirii is one of three aquatic specialist species known as “water shrews”. Also referred to as “Marsh Shrew” and “Bendire’s Shrew”, this species is at the northern end of its range in southwest BC and found nowhere else in Canada.
COSEWIC: Endangered, BC List: Red / Identified Wildlife
In North America this is the largest shrew in the genus Sorex. Fur (pelage) is a velvety dark-brown to black, only slightly paler on the ventral area than on the dorsal area; more brownish in summer than winter. The dark brown tail is uni-coloured. The pelage has a dual ability to repel water while trapping a layer of air. This acts as an insulation layer reducing heat loss by 50% while swimming (critical as most shrew species have a high metabolic rate and can stress from energy loss quickly). The skull is large with a ventrally curved rostrum (area where the snout extends from the top of the skull) and holds 32 teeth. As their name implies, Pacific Water Shrew are excellent swimmers. Air bubbles trapped beneath the unique fringe hairs of the front and hind feet provide enough buoyancy to enable them to run on the surface of the water for up to 5 seconds.
RESOURCES
The most recent draft (2010), please also refer to the more recent Pacific Water Shrew Recovery Strategy (2011) or contact the South Coast Regional Species at Risk Biologist in Surrey
Lethal impacts and potential mortality for water shrew from submerged fish traps
For further information see:
A source for authoritative conservation information on thousands of plants and animals and hundreds of ecological communities in BC.
A joint venture resource providing comprehensive information on a range of species and ecological communities specific to the Coast Region of BC (including the South, Central and North Coast, Vancouver Island and Haida Gwaii).
Environmental guidelines for urban and rural land development in BC.
Learn what species are at risk in your area, search by name, habitat type, regional district and forest district.
A volunteer-driven GIS-based biogeoclimatic atlas of the wildlife of BC.
Source for status, taxonomy, distribution and life history information for plants, animals and ecological communities in the US and Canada.
An initiative of the Province of BC to provide more explicit guidance and conservation on specific species and ecological communities of conservation concern that are impacted by forestry activities.
The source for news, information and documents related to species at risk, their status and conservation in Canada.
Up-to-date information on recovery planning and implementation for species in BC.
SHARE
