A genus of shrews found in North America, including the short-tailed shrew, which are among the few venomous mammals.
From the scientific Latin genus name Blarina, likely derived from blare or referring to the shrew's sharp sound. The -ina suffix is common in genus names, coming from Latin.
The short-tailed shrew (Blarina brevicauda) is one of the only venomous mammals in North America, and its venom comes from modified saliva glands—it's a bizarre evolutionary accident that shows how nature keeps experimenting with weapons, and neuroscientists study their venom to understand pain pathways in humans.
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