Himalayan shrew

{{Short description|Species of mammal}}

{{Speciesbox

| image = Soriculus.png

| status = LC

| status_system = IUCN3.1

| status_ref = {{cite iucn |author=Molur, S. |date=2016 |title=Soriculus nigrescens |volume=2016 |page=e.T41434A22319613 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T41434A22319613.en |access-date=15 November 2021}}

| genus = Soriculus

| species = nigrescens

| authority = (Gray, 1842)

| range_map = Himalayan Shrew area.png

| range_map_caption = Himalayan shrew range

}}

The Himalayan shrew (Soriculus nigrescens) is a species of shrew in the subfamily Soricinae (red-toothed shrews) and tribe Nectogalini. It is native to montane forest habitats in the southern Himalayas in Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, and Nepal, ranging in altitude from {{Convert|700|m|ft}} to {{Convert|4500|m|ft}}. It is generally considered to be the only species in the genus Soriculus (though other potentially valid species in the genus were described in 2023 and 2024). The body size is relatively, large, the largest in Soriculus, at approximately {{Convert|17.6|g|oz}}. The fur colour varies from brown to black. The tail is relatively short, about half the length of the combined head and body. The forelimbs and their claws are relatively enlarged, suggesting fossorial (digging) habits for the species.{{Cite journal |last=Chen |first=Zhongzheng |last2=Pei |first2=Xiaoxin |last3=Hu |first3=Jiangxiao |last4=Song |first4=Wenyu |last5=Khanal |first5=Laxman |last6=Li |first6=Quan |last7=Jiang |first7=Xuelong |date=2024-06-03 |title=Multilocus phylogeny and morphological analyses illuminate overlooked diversity of Soriculus (Mammalia: Eulipotyphla: Soricidae), with descriptions of two new endemic species from the eastern Himalayas |url=https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article/201/2/534/7285780 |journal=Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society |language=en |volume=201 |issue=2 |pages=534–548 |doi=10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad131 |issn=0024-4082|url-access=subscription }}

File:Himalayan shrew (Soriculus nigrescens).jpg

File:Himalayan shrew(Soriculus nigrescens).jpg