Why do these tiny mammals possess such an insatiable, constant need for food?
In short: Shrews are among the smallest mammals on Earth, yet they maintain an appetite that defies their size. This video explores the biological drivers behind their intense eating habits and examines unique dental features from the Natural History Museum collection.
The Natural History Museum in London houses over 80 million specimens, ranging from dinosaur remains and meteorites to giant squid. Within this vast collection, scientists like Chloe Griffiths and Roween Rawat investigate the specific physiological demands that force shrews to consume food at such a high rate.
By analyzing the peculiar teeth of these creatures, researchers gain insight into how shrews survive despite their diminutive stature. The study highlights the intersection of evolutionary biology and the extreme metabolic requirements of one of nature's smallest mammals.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Why do shrews need to eat so much? | A closer look at one of the smallest mammals
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