Long-tailed Forest Shrew

Long-tailed Forest ShrewThe long-tailed forest shrew is a small shrew of moist forests and forest edges in southern South Africa. Its tail is long and thick relative to its body.What does it look like?Its tail is long and thick relative to its body and is described as slightly prehensile. The assessment also reports little geographic variation in coat color.How does it live?The long-tailed forest shrew is a small shrew of moist forests and forest edges in southern South Africa. Its tail is long and thick relative to its body.It is nocturnal. In stomach-content records, insects and seeds were found, and the species uses moist forest, forest edges, and damp grassland habitats.Keeping it safeIUCN Red List · Endangered (EN) · GlobalSouth Africa’s 2016 regional assessment classified the species as Endangered (EN) and the Langeberg Mountains subpopulation as Critically Endangered (CR). In 2025, a Boosmansbos individual was recorded again after 46 years.