Hero Shrew Range - Photo by Chermundy (Wikimedia)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nYou see the bone structure of the Hero Shrew is quite different than other shrews.\u00a0 How are they different?\u00a0 Great question! For starters they have corrugated, interlocking vertebrae, which are different than most mammals out there.\u00a0 As well, they have 11 lumbar vertebrae (most mammals only have 5) and interlocking spines on their lower and side surfaces.\u00a0 This skeletal setup provides a very strong and flexible structure and actually makes up about 4% of the shrews total weight. The spine of other small mammals is around 0.5-1.16% of their total weight.\u00a0 Are you starting to see why these particular rodents are called Armored Shrews?<\/p>\n
Well their unique skeletal makeup doesn’t end with the spine.\u00a0 Their ribs are also thicker compared to other small mammals.\u00a0 Finally, their muscles that extend and flex with the spine are very well developed.\u00a0 This is why these shrews have an unusual gait as their spine flexes in a snake-like manner.\u00a0 So what do all of these internal modifications mean to the Hero Shrew?\u00a0 Well, it means they can withstand the weight of a 160 lb human standing on them without causing any harm.\u00a0 Yep, you read that right!\u00a0 If you ask me, that is pretty crazy.<\/p>\n
Well I think that pretty much sums up the Hero Shrew, which just may be the worlds strongest small mammal.\u00a0 No wonder they receive the title “Hero”.\u00a0 Enjoy the rest of your day and I will see you here tomorrow for the last fact of the week.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Welcome to another fun-filled Wild Fact.\u00a0 Come on, tell me one other thing you would rather be doing than reading about the Hero Shrew on this beautiful Thursday? See, there is nothing.\u00a0 That’s right animal fans, we are heading to the rodent world to learn about a shrew that looks perfectly normal on the outside but the inside is a whole different story.\u00a0 And remember, it is the inside that really counts. The Hero Shrew is also known as the Armored Shrew and just happens to be native to a little continent called Africa. Since they are restricted to the <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4326,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[60,4024],"tags":[348,1873,1874,1875,1872,4025,732,733],"yoast_head":"\n
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