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> The Mount Lyell shrew (Sorex lyelli) is 9 to 10 centimeters long and weighs between 2 and 3 grams, according to the researchers' measurements. That's got to

> The Mount Lyell shrew (Sorex lyelli) is 9 to 10 centimeters long and weighs between 2 and 3 grams, according to the researchers' measurements. That's got to be a typo...

Finnucane 2y ago
The reason they're never seen alive is because they're actually balloon animals.
shpongled 2y ago
Probably 20-30 grams. Average lab mouse is around that weight and length [1] [1] https://www.jax.org/jax-mice-and-services/strain-data-sheet-pages/body-weight-chart-000664 https://www.jax.org/jax-mice-and-services/strain-data-sheet-...
s0rce 2y ago
Must be, a typical hummingbird weighs more than that (4g).
hnburnsy 2y ago
No typo apparently... >Editor's note: This story was corrected at 12:15 p.m., Jan. 17, to clarify that the shrews weigh 2 to 3 grams, according to the researchers' measurements.
natosaichek 2y ago
Wikipedia says: The shrew is between 8.9 and 10 centimetres (3.5 and 3.9 in) long[4] and weighs 4–5 grams (0.14–0.18 oz).[5] It has 32 teeth.[4] Must be a mistake on both?!? No way its got less that 5 ccs of blood in a 9-10 cm long body.
- Someone 2y ago
  > No way its got less that 5 ccs of blood in a 9-10 cm long body. Scaling that body up by a factor of 10 would get you 5 × 10³ = 5,000 ccs of blood in a 90-100 cm long body. That’s 5 liter. We also have (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_volume https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_volume) “A typical adult has a blood volume of approximately 5 liters”, and the typical adult is quite a bit taller than 90-100 cm.
mmsc 2y ago
Look up Etruscan shrew. They weigh less than 2g on avg.
zombot 2y ago
Yup, they used civilized units instead of the usual feudal ones.
rob74 2y ago
According to other Wikipedia articles (https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sorex_lyelli https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sorex_lyelli), almost half of that length is the tail, so that might explain it. Also, I assume most of the "bulk" you see in the photos is fur (which a small mammal in a harsh climate needs a lot of for insulation).

> The Mount Lyell shrew (Sorex lyelli) is 9 to 10 centimeters long and weighs between 2 and 3 grams, according to the researchers' measurements. That's got to be a typo...

Finnucane 2y ago

The reason they're never seen alive is because they're actually balloon animals.

shpongled 2y ago

Probably 20-30 grams. Average lab mouse is around that weight and length [1] [1] https://www.jax.org/jax-mice-and-services/strain-data-sheet-pages/body-weight-chart-000664 https://www.jax.org/jax-mice-and-services/strain-data-sheet-...

s0rce 2y ago

Must be, a typical hummingbird weighs more than that (4g).

hnburnsy 2y ago

No typo apparently... >Editor's note: This story was corrected at 12:15 p.m., Jan. 17, to clarify that the shrews weigh 2 to 3 grams, according to the researchers' measurements.

natosaichek 2y ago

Wikipedia says: The shrew is between 8.9 and 10 centimetres (3.5 and 3.9 in) long[4] and weighs 4–5 grams (0.14–0.18 oz).[5] It has 32 teeth.[4] Must be a mistake on both?!? No way its got less that 5 ccs of blood in a 9-10 cm long body.

Someone 2y ago
> No way its got less that 5 ccs of blood in a 9-10 cm long body. Scaling that body up by a factor of 10 would get you 5 × 10³ = 5,000 ccs of blood in a 90-100 cm long body. That’s 5 liter. We also have (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_volume https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_volume) “A typical adult has a blood volume of approximately 5 liters”, and the typical adult is quite a bit taller than 90-100 cm.

mmsc 2y ago

Look up Etruscan shrew. They weigh less than 2g on avg.

zombot 2y ago

Yup, they used civilized units instead of the usual feudal ones.

rob74 2y ago

According to other Wikipedia articles (https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sorex_lyelli https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sorex_lyelli), almost half of that length is the tail, so that might explain it. Also, I assume most of the "bulk" you see in the photos is fur (which a small mammal in a harsh climate needs a lot of for insulation).