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{{Taxobox
| name = Eurasian water shrew<ref name=msw3>{{MSW3 Soricomorpha| id = 13700434 | page = 279}}</ref>
| image = Neomys fodiens TF 090829.jpg
| image_upright = 1.2
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref =<ref>{{IUCN2013.1|assessor=Hutterer, R.|assessor2=Meinig, H.|assessor3=Bertolino, S.|assessor4=Kryštufek, B.|assessor5=Amori, A.|assessor6=Sheftel, B.|assessor7=Stubbe, M.|assessor8=Samiya, R.|assessor9=Ariunbold, J.|assessor10=Buuveibaatar, V.|display-assessors=etal|year=2008 |id=29658 |title=Neomys fodiens |downloaded=2013-09-14}}</ref>
| regnum = [[Animalia]]
| phylum = [[Chordata]]
| classis = [[Mammalia]]
| ordo = [[Eulipotyphla]]
| familia = [[Soricidae]]
| genus = ''[[Neomys]]''
| species = '''''N. fodiens'''''
| binomial = ''Neomys fodiens''
| binomial_authority = ([[Thomas Pennant|Pennant]], 1771)
| range_map = Eurasian Water Shrew area.png
| range_map_caption = Eurasian water shrew range
}}

The '''Eurasian water shrew''' (''Neomys fodiens''), known in the [[United Kingdom]] as the '''water shrew''', is a relatively large [[shrew]], up to {{Convert|10|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} long, with a tail up to three-quarters as long again. It has short, dark fur, often with a few white tufts, a white belly, and a few stiff hairs around the feet and tail. It lives close to [[fresh water]], hunting aquatic prey in the water and nearby. Its fur traps bubbles of air in the water which greatly aids its buoyancy, but requires it to anchor itself to remain underwater for more than the briefest of dives.

Like many shrews, the water shrew has [[venom (poison)|venomous]] [[saliva]], making it one of the few [[venomous mammals]], although it is not able to puncture the skin of large animals such as [[human]]s. Highly [[Territory (animal)|territorial]], it lives a solitary life and is found throughout the northern part of Europe and Asia, from Britain to Korea.

==Description==
The Eurasian water shrew grows to a length of about {{convert|10|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} long with a tail length of {{convert|8|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} and weight of {{convert|15|to|19|g}}. The dense short fur on the head, back and sides is greyish-black. The underparts are dirty white and are sharply demarcated from the dorsal surface. Sometimes they are tinged with rusty brown or occasionally are entirely dark grey. There is a white spot just behind the eye and often another near the small, rounded ear which is nearly hidden in the fur. The nose is black and the snout long and tapering.<ref name=Collins>{{cite book |title=Mammals |last=Konig |first=Claus |year=1973 |publisher=Collins & Co. |isbn=978-0-00-212080-7 |pages=23–26 }}</ref> The sharp, mostly white teeth are tipped with red, typical of the shrew subfamily [[Soricinae]]. The rusty colour comes from deposits of iron which serve to harden the [[Tooth enamel|enamel]] and which are concentrated in the tips of the teeth, particularly the molars which are the teeth most subject to wear.<ref>{{cite journal|author1=Strait, S. G. |author2=Smith, S. C. | title = Elemental analysis of soricine enamel: pigmentation variation and distribution in molars of ''Blarina brevicauda'' | journal = Journal of Mammalogy | volume = 87 | issue = 4 | pages = 700–705 | year = 2006 | doi = 10.1644/05-MAMM-A-265R4.1 }}</ref> The female has five pairs of nipples. The legs are short and the hind feet are powerful, with a fringe of short, stiff hairs on the outer edge, both of which features assist while it is driving its body through the water. The tail is slender and has a keel of short white hairs on the underside.<ref name=Collins/> This shrew often utters shrill cries as it scurries about.<ref name=Collins/>

Its [[karyotype]] has [[Diploid|2n]] = 52 and [[Fundamental number|FN]] = 98.<ref name = msw3/>

==Distribution and habitat==
The Eurasian water shrew is found throughout Europe with the exception of Iceland, Ireland, The Iberian Peninsula, certain Mediterranean islands and the Balkans.<ref name=Collins/> In Asia, its range extends from western Siberia and Asia Minor to North Korea and the Pacific coast of Siberia.<ref name=ADW>{{cite web |url=http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Neomys_fodiens/ |title=''Neomys fodiens'': Eurasian water shrew |author=Fahey, Bridget |year=1999 |work=Animal Diversity Web |publisher=University of Michigan Museum of Zoology |accessdate=30 August 2013}}</ref> It rarely strays far from water and is found in and around ditches, streams, ponds, watercress beds, fish ponds, damp meadows and rough bushy ground adjoining water.<ref name=Collins/>

==Biology==
Outside the breeding season, both male and female Eurasian water shrews maintain a [[Territory (animal)|territory]] but during the breeding season, only the females do so. At this time the males wander about visiting various female territories which indicates a [[Promiscuity|promiscuous]] [[mating system]] without pair bonding.<ref name=Cantoni>{{cite journal |author=Cantoni, Debora |year=1993 |title=Social and spatial organization of free-ranging shrews, ''Sorex coronatus'' and ''Neomys fodiens'' (Insectivora, Mammalia) |journal=Animal Behaviour |volume=45 |issue=5 |pages=975–995 |doi=10.1006/anbe.1993.1116 }}</ref> On the whole they are solitary animals that seem to mutually avoid each other and there is no social hierarchy.<ref name=ADW/>

The breeding season extends from April to September and much of the courtship takes place in the water. It either uses pre-existing burrows or digs its own. The nesting chamber is lined with moss, dry grass and leaves. Litters of four to eight or more young are born after a twenty-four-day [[gestation period]]. The young are tiny and helpless at birth. Their eyes open at fifteen to eighteen days and they are fully weaned at about seven weeks. Females can produce two or three litters a year.<ref name=Collins/> The juveniles disperse after weaning, setting up their own territories.<ref name=Cantoni/> They are sexually mature at six to eight months and their life expectancy is about three years.<ref name=ADW/>

The Eurasian water shrew is active both night and day and is thoroughly at home in the water. Its short fur holds air and the skin does not get wet when it swims. When it emerges from the water it enters one of its many burrows and any moisture adhering to the fur is absorbed by the earth walls. It mostly feeds on aquatic organisms which are caught while it is swimming. It can remain underwater for twenty seconds before it has to surface to breathe. Larger prey items can be subdued by the toxic secretions from its submaxillary glands. They feed on [[crayfish]], [[Gastropoda|water snails]], small [[fish]], aquatic [[larvae]], [[insect]]s, [[spider]]s, [[amphibian]]s, especially [[newt]]s and small [[rodent]]s are also eaten. It also feeds on land on such things as insect larvae.<ref name=ADW/>

The Eurasian water shrew has a pair of glands under its jaw which produce [[venom]], and this has been shown to be potent against the [[field vole]] (''Microtus agrestis''), and lethal at a minimum dose of fifteen milligrams per kilogram body weight.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Dufton, Mark J. |year=1992 |title=Venomous mammals |journal=Pharmacology & Therapeutics |volume=53 |issue=2 |pages=199–215 |doi=10.1016/0163-7258(92)90009-O }}</ref> The venom consists of a paralytic [[peptide]] which has been patented for use in neuromuscular therapy.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.google.com/patents?hl=en&lr=&vid=USPAT7485622&id=ZN-zAAAAEBAJ&oi=fnd&dq=Neomys+fodiens+venom&printsec=abstract#v=onepage&q=Neomys%20fodiens%20venom&f=false |title=Patent: Paralytic peptide for use in neuromuscular therapy |date=3 February 2009 |work=Patent 7485622 |publisher=United States Patent Office |accessdate=30 August 2013}}</ref>

==Status==
The [[International Union for Conservation of Nature]] lists the Eurasian water shrew as being of "[[Least concern]]" in its [[Red List of Threatened Species]]. This is because it has a large population distributed across a wide range and its population seems fairly stable. In some areas habitat degradation is occurring and wetlands are being drained but not to such an extent as to increase the status to "[[Vulnerable species|Vulnerable]]". Other possible threats include agricultural products and sewage which may pollute waterways and reduce the availability of food. In western Spain, a separate subspecies (''N. f. niethammeri'') has a very limited range and may be declining in numbers.<ref name=iucn>{{IUCN2008|assessor=Hutterer, R.|assessor2=Meinig, H.|assessor3=Bertolino, S.|assessor4=Kryštufek, B.|assessor5=Amori, A.|assessor6=Sheftel, B.|assessor7=Stubbe, M.|assessor8=Samiya, R.|assessor9=Ariunbold, J.|assessor10=Buuveibaatar, V.|display-assessors=etal|year=2008 |id=29658 |title=''Neomys fodiens'' |downloaded=30 August 2013}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Neomys]]
[[Category:Mammals of Asia]]
[[Category:Mammals of Europe]]
[[Category:Mammals of Russia]]
[[Category:Mammals of Kazakhstan]]
[[Category:Venomous mammals]]

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