Asian house shrew
This is the largest shrew in Taiwan and the only one that enters homes in search of food. It is dark grey and its tail is thick, with sparse long bristles. Due to special glands in its abdomen, its feces and the places it frequents have a unique odor. It mainly inhabits environments where there is human activity, feeding on food waste and the insects that are attracted to food waste. Its common name in Chinese means “money rat.” It is said that its loud chirp-like calls sound like coins falling on the ground and this name is auspicious. It is possible that earlier peoples understood that this shrew eats insects, making it helpful, and the name “money rat” was used to distinguish it from ordinary rats that steal food.
Text/Chen Yan-Jun, Chen Mu-Xuan
Photo/Huang Xiao-Ting
