African giant shrew

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The African giant shrew, Crocidura olivieri, is a large white-toothed shrew found across much of Africa. It is also known as Mann’s musk shrew, Euchareena’s musk shrew, or Olivier’s shrew.

Conservation status
- Least Concern (IUCN).

Where it lives
- Native to Africa, from Senegal to Sudan and Ethiopia, and south to Angola, northern Namibia, and Zimbabwe. It also occurs in the Nile Valley in Egypt.
- It lives in many habitats: dry and moist forests (lowland and montane), savannas, farmland, gardens, towns, and heavily degraded forests. Near people, it may be considered a pest.

What it looks like
- A large shrew: head and body 110–140 mm, tail about 80% of body length, hind feet 21–23 mm.
- Weight varies by region (roughly 30–65 g).
- Fur color is variable: top (dorsal) colors range from reddish-brown to blackish; underside (ventral) from buffy-brown to dark grey.
- Tail is thickly covered with short bristles.
- The skull is robust with a long snout; teeth are large and strong.
- Three pairs of nipples; glands on the flanks secrete a musky odor.

Behavior and diet
- Nocturnal and primarily active just before dawn.
- Eats small invertebrates such as ants, beetles, millipedes, termites, and spiders; may also eat carrion.

Reproduction
- Breeding can occur most of the year, with average litter sizes around four.

Predators
- Owls (including barn owl, African grass owl, spotted eagle-owl) and small mammals like genets, mongooses, and wild cats.