Ecology & Life History:

• Diagnostic Characteristics: See Carraway (1995) for a key to western North American soricids based primarily on dentaries.
  
• Reproduction Comments: Reproduction appears to occur throughout the warmer months; probably throughout the year in the southern part of the range. Length of gestation unknown, probably a little less than 3 weeks. Up to 6 young per litter; apparently at least 2 litters/year. Young altricial. (Hoffmeister 1986).
  
• Ecology Comments
  Frequently preyed upon by owls (great horned, barn, long-eared, burrowing, etc.).
• Non-Migrant: Y
• Locally Migrant: N
• Long Distance Migrant: N
• Palustrine Habitat(s): Riparian
• Terrestrial Habitat(s): Desert, Grassland/herbaceous, Shrubland/chaparral, Woodland - Conifer, Woodland - Hardwood
• Special Habitat Factors: Burrowing in or using soil, Fallen log/debris
• Habitat Comments: Found in arid areas having adequate cover for resting and nesting; deserts, semiarid grassland with scattered cactus and yucca, chaparral slopes, alluvial fans, sagebrush, gullies, juniper woodland, riparian associations, village dumps. In Oklahoma, many were collected from stick houses of NEOTOMA MICROPUS (Caire et al. 1989). Ranges up to meadows in ponderosa pine forest (2438-2618) in southeastern Arizona (Davis and Sidner 1989).
• Adult Food Habits: Invertivore
• Immature Food Habits: Invertivore
• Food Comments: Feeds primarily on insects, spiders, and centipedes, which also serve as a source of water (Ingles 1965). May paralyze and store insects for later use (Hoffmeister 1986).
• Adult Phenology: Circadian
• Immature Phenology: Circadian
• Phenology Comments: Active throughout the year, at any hour (Armstrong 1982). Periodically becomes torpid (Hoffmeister 1986).
  
• Length: 9 centimeters
• Weight: 5 grams
• Species information from: NatureServe, 2007
  

This species was spotted in the above locations.

Source:  Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission

Arkansas Valley Prairie and Woodland

This habitat is composed of prairies and associated woodlands and is found in the Arkansas Valley region of Arkansas and adjacent Oklahoma. This region is distinctly bounded by the Boston Mountains to the north and the Ouachita Mountains to the south. The valley is characterized by broad, level to gently rolling uplands derived from shales and is much less rugged and more heavily impacted by Arkansas River erosional processes than the adjacent mountainous regions. (adapted from NatureServe 2005).

Central Interior Acidic Cliff and Talus

This habitat is found primarily in the Interior Highlands, which include the Ozark Highlands, Boston Mountains, Arkansas Valley, and Oachita Mountains. It is typically sparsely vegetated with several fern species and sedges inhabiting the moister sites with more soil development. Wind and water erosion are the major forces which influence this habitat, and exposed protrustions and rocky slopes consisting of sandstone and shale typify these areas. These habitats are usually small, isolated from one another, and are often embedded within a larger layout of habitats. (adapted from NatureServe 2005)

Central Interior Calcareous Cliff and Talus

Exposed rocky protrusions and slopes composed of limestone and dolomite are characteristics of this habitat. They are usually small, isolated from one another, and are often embedded within a larger layout of habitats. The land ranges from moist to dry and from sparsely to moderately well vegetated. Woodland species such as Chinkapin Oak can establish themselves along available ridgetops.(adapted from NatureServe 2005)

Central Interior Highlands Dry Acidic Glade and Barrens

These habitats occur mainly along moderate to steep slopes or valley walls of rivers. They are usually small, isolated from one another, and are often embedded within a larger layout of habitats. Parent material from which the composition of the terrain is derived from includes chert, shale, and/or sandstone bedrock with well to excessively well-drained soils interspersed with rocks and boulders. (adapted from NatureServe 2005)

Ouachita Novaculite Glade and Woodland

This habitat represents a mosaic of glades and woodlands found on novaculite geology in the central Ouachita Mountains of western Arkansas. Examples of this habitat generally occupy ridgetops at 450-640 m (1476-2100 feet) elevation. They form patterns of small woodlands scattered on rocky ridges and upper slopes. Wooded or forest patches may appear as almost linear strips and have a variable, often patchy, structure with some areas of dense canopy interspersed with more open canopies and open grassy sites. (adapted from NatureServe 2005)

Ozark-Ouachita Pine/Bluestem Woodland

This habitat is composed of pine-dominated woodlands with intermittent canopy and abundant herbaceous groundcover; few or no hardwoods are present among dominant canopy trees. The habitat components associated with early seral conditions, as well as the mature pine condition are exhibited. Fire is important to maintaining open canopy and allowing prairie species to flourish. (adapted from NatureServe 2005)

West Gulf Coastal Plain Calcareous Prairie

Although other calcareous prairies are found west of the Mississippi River, this habitat represents some of the largest known and highest quality remaining examples. Plant communities occur over relatively deep soils with circumneutral surface soil pH, which is unusual given the predominance of acidic, generally forested soils in the region. In most cases individual prairie openings are small and isolate(adapted from NatureServe 2005)