Shrew

Shrew, small, mouselike, insect-eating mammal with short legs, and long, pointed nose. Shrews have narrow skulls and sharp, rather unspecialized teeth for feeding on insects, earthworms, and small-mammal carrion. They are highly active creatures. The somewhat indigestible nature of their food combined with the high energy consumption of their constant activity means that they may eat 2–3 times their own weight of food in a day. Having a pulse rate that sometimes approaches 1,000 beats a minute, few shrews live longer than a year.