Shrews may grow bigger snouts in winter to cope with cold air, scientists say
Study of long-clawed shrew skulls from Japan shows that while skulls get smaller in winter, snouts elongate Humans turn to heated blankets and fluffy socks to cope with winter, but long-clawed shrews have a very different adaptation: they increase the size of their snouts. Researchers have previously discovered that certain small mammals, including the common shrew and European mole, reversibly shrink their body mass
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- 19 Aug 2026, 09:10 UTC
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aaed4caac0a1...25d88b
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- Publisher
- The Guardian
- Country
- England / United Kingdom
- Source published
- 18 Aug 2026, 23:01 UTC
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- No update timestamp supplied
- Byline
- Nicola Davis Science correspondent
- Section
- Wildlife
Study of long-clawed shrew skulls from Japan shows that while skulls get smaller in winter, snouts elongate Humans turn to heated blankets and fluffy socks to cope with winter, but long-clawed shrews have a very different adaptation: they increase the size of their snouts. Researchers have previously discovered that certain small mammals, including the common shrew and European mole, reversibly shrink their body mass
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Shrews may grow bigger snouts in winter to cope with cold air, scientists say
Study of long-clawed shrew skulls from Japan shows that while skulls get smaller in winter, snouts elongate Humans turn to heated blankets and fluffy socks to cope with winter, but long-clawed shrews have a very different adaptation: they increase the size of their snouts. Researchers have previously discovered that certain small mammals, including the common shrew and European mole, reversibly shrink their body mass
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aaed4caac0a1...25d88b- Capture SHA-256
1abd1ae387f2...310803
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- machine content-type Reported news observable-rules-v1 / 70% rule confidence
- publisher category Animal behaviour rss-category
- publisher category Biology rss-category
- publisher category Japan rss-category
- publisher category Science rss-category
- publisher category Wildlife rss-category
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- #5
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- 19 Aug 2026, 09:10 UTC
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- news-ledger/0.1
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