Mammals Active day and night

Reddish-gray Musk Shrew

Crocidura cyanea

iNaturalist Wikipedia

The Reddish-gray Musk Shrew is a tiny, high-velocity hunter that thrives in the hidden corners of African gardens and grasslands. With a specialized snout and a relentless appetite, this 'garden helper' is a master of pest control.

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Quick Identification

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Size

Head-body length: 6-10 cm (2.4-4 in); Tail: 4-6 cm (1.6-2.4 in); Weight: 5-15 grams (0.2-0.5 oz)

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Colors

Bicolor coat featuring a blend of reddish-brown and slate gray on the upperparts with a paler grayish-white underbelly

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Key Features

Long, flexible pointed snout with sensitive whiskers
Dense, velvety reddish-gray fur
Small, bead-like eyes and ears partially hidden by fur
Strong musk glands located on the flanks

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern Active day and night

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Peak hours 7 PM - 5 AM

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Season Year-round

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Diet Primarily insectivorous, feeding on a variety of invertebrates including beetles, crickets, spiders, earthworms, and larvae; occasionally scavenges on small vertebrate remains.

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Habitat Versatile inhabitant found in suburban gardens, forest edges, high-elevation grasslands, and even caves.

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Where Does the Reddish-gray Musk Shrew Live?

Native to the African continent, the Reddish-gray Musk Shrew occupies a vast range spanning from the southern tip of Africa up through East and Central Africa. It is a common resident in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe, with populations extending north into the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, and as far west as Nigeria. This adaptable mammal is found in almost any environment that provides sufficient ground cover and moisture for its insect prey.

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13 Countries

4.2M km² Range

Least Concern Conservation

ZA South Africa NA Namibia ZW Zimbabwe BW Botswana ZM Zambia

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iNaturalist / Verified observation data

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Behavior

The Reddish-gray Musk Shrew is a solitary and high-energy insectivore that spends the majority of its waking hours hunting. Driven by a metabolic rate so high that it must consume nearly its own body weight in food every 24 hours, this species moves with a characteristic frantic, darting motion. While they are primarily active at night to avoid predators, they may emerge during the day if food is scarce or if they are protected by dense leaf litter.

These shrews are highly territorial and use potent scent glands on their sides to mark their paths and discourage intruders. In a backyard setting, they are shy and rarely seen in the open, preferring to tunnel under mulch or follow the edges of walls and logs. Despite their small size, they are fierce predators of invertebrates and can be surprisingly vocal, emitting high-pitched chirps and squeaks when communicating or threatened.

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Camera Tips

To capture the Reddish-gray Musk Shrew on camera, you must think small and stay low. These shrews rarely leave the safety of ground cover, so your camera should be positioned no higher than 10 centimeters (4 inches) off the ground. Aim the lens along 'natural runways'—the narrow gaps between garden rocks, the edge of a porch, or a clear path through the leaf mulch. Because they move so quickly, a camera with a fast trigger speed (0.2 seconds or less) is essential to avoid getting photos of just a disappearing tail.

Using a lure is the most effective way to get a clear, stationary shot. A small amount of wet cat food or a few mealworms placed inside a hollow log or under a propped-up piece of bark will encourage the shrew to stop and forage. If your camera has a 'macro' setting or a focus adjustment, use it; these animals are so small that they often appear blurry if the camera is focused on the background rather than the immediate foreground where the bait is placed.

Since these shrews are most active during the dark, ensure your camera uses 'No-Glow' or 'Black' infrared LEDs. Standard red-glow LEDs can sometimes startle sensitive small mammals, causing them to bolt. Set your camera to record short 5-10 second video clips rather than still images. Shrews are constantly moving their snouts and twitching their whiskers; a video captures these fascinating behaviors much better than a single frame ever could. Check your setup after a light rain, as the damp soil brings insects to the surface, making the shrews particularly active.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Reddish-gray Musk Shrew.

Greater Musk Shrew

Much larger in size and typically lacks the distinct reddish tint in its fur found in the Reddish-gray variety.

Lesser Gray-brown Musk Shrew

Smaller and more uniformly gray, with a shorter tail relative to its body length.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Reddish-gray Musk Shrews are active day and night due to their high metabolism, but they show a significant peak in activity during the night (nocturnal) and at dawn and dusk (crepuscular) to avoid predators.

To attract these shrews, maintain a 'wild' corner in your garden with plenty of leaf litter, logs, and mulch. Avoid using pesticides, as these eliminate their primary food source of insects and spiders.

They are primarily insectivores, eating a wide diet of beetles, crickets, spiders, and worms. They are famous for their voracious appetites, often eating nearly their own body weight in insects every day.

Yes, they are very common in suburban gardens across Southern Africa, as these areas often provide the consistent moisture and high insect density they need to survive.

Unlike mice, which have rounded ears and blunt noses, the Reddish-gray Musk Shrew has a very long, pointed, highly mobile snout, much smaller eyes, and shorter, velvety fur.

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