This is a poisonous mammal which is related to the mole. It looks like a mouse and its body length is about 7-10 cm. It has a long tail, nearly 12 cm. The nasal part of its muzzle is filed off like a trunk. It has an underground, ground or amphibian way of life and feeds on insects, spiders, worms, snails, etc. It bears 3-8 babies in the spring and autumn. It is a very timid animal, with the exception of Blarina brevicauda, and one can meet it rarely.

Only the North American short-tailed Blarina brevicauda, the big European aquatic Neomys fodiens and the little European aquatic Neamys anomalus have proved poisonous. The poison is in the front teeth of the animal and flows out during biting. The poison causes paralysis and death to small mammals. In humans may occur a weak local inflammation on the site of the bite but there are no documented cases of death except in gypsy folklore. 

Did you know that: One of the most aggressive animals in the world is the tiny mouse–like North American short-tailed Blarina brevicauda. It is in a permanent state of “raging” and swallows an unbelievably great amount of insects, spiders, worms and snails every day. If it doesn’t get food for two hours, it starts eating its fellows.