Book 11, Question 133
Why Do Tiny Shrews Have to Eat Almost All Day?
Tiny shrews eat almost all day because their little bodies burn energy super fast! A shrew is one of the smallest mammals, with a pointy nose and tiny eyes. Small bodies lose heat fast, so shrews need lots of fuel.
More fun facts
- Shrews have very high metabolism, even for such small animals.
- Shrews eat nearly their own body weight in food every day.
- Being small and warm blooded, they lose heat and water quickly, so they must keep eating.
- A short tailed shrew's tiny eyes can do little more than tell light from dark.
- Short tailed shrews are venomous; one study suggested a shrew has enough venom for 200 mice.
- Shrews use a simple form of echolocation, much less precise than bats'.
Sources: Smithsonian, National Park Service
Questions kids ask
Why must shrews eat so much?
They are small and warm blooded, so they lose heat fast and need lots of food to keep going.