The common shrew occurs from Europe east to Lake Baikal. It has a differently colored back, flanks, and underside, and searches woodland, grassland, and other habitats for invertebrates.
It has a tricolored coat: the back ranges from black to reddish brown, the flanks are nut brown, and the underside is grayish. Its eyes are small and its ears are hidden in the fur.
It uses varied habitats, including woodland, grassland, dunes, scree, heath, and hedgerows. It opportunistically eats insects, woodlice, spiders, and earthworms, and is active by day and night.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.