The genus Blarina, commonly called short-tailed shrews, is a genus of relatively large shrews with relatively short tails found in North America.
Description
They have 32 teeth and are in the red-toothed shrew subfamily. They generally have dark fur and thick feet. The saliva of these animals is toxic and is used to subdue prey.
Species
Species are:
- Northern short-tailed shrew B. brevicauda
- Southern short-tailed shrew B. carolinensis
- Elliot's short-tailed shrew B. hylophaga
- Everglades short-tailed shrew B. peninsulae
- Sherman's short-tailed shrew B. shermani; possibly extinct
Ecoepidemiology
Short-tailed shrews are one of the animal reservoirs of the agents of Lyme disease and human babesiosis.
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