Black Shrew
There is not much information available on the Black Shrew (Suncus ater). It is a critically endangered species of mammal endemic to Mount Kinabalu on the island of Borneo in Malaysia. Destruction of the Black Shrew’s already restricted environment is the major factor in the endangerment of this small mammal.
The Black Shrew is one of the world’s white-toothed shrews. It has also been known as the Bornean Musk Rat, and just simply as the Black Rat.
What does the Black Shrew look like?
Unfortunately, the Black Shrew has eluded science in some ways. The size of the Black Shrew has never been recorded. Only one specimen was ever known. As mentioned above, the Black Shrew was found in Malaysia on Mt. Kinabalu. Due to this single sighting, it is thought that the Black Shrew may very well be extinct. More research and sighting are needed to develop an accurate physical description of the Black Shrew.
However, it can be assumed that the Black Shrew would be relative in size to its cousins in the same genus. Unfortunately, shrews within the same genus vary in size with great degree. Some are as small as 1 inch, and some are as large as 4 inches.
Black Shrew Classification
| - Kingdom: Animalia |
| - Phylum: Chordata |
| - Class: Mammalia |
| - Order: Soricomorpha |
| - Family: Soricidae |
| - Genus: Suncus |
| - Species: Suncus ater |