The Alpine shrew is 6 to 7.7 centimetres (2.4 to 3.0 in) in length, not including a tail as long as its body, and weighs between 5.5 and 11.5 g (0.2 and 0.4 oz).

The tips of its teeth are reddish-brown and it has a long pointed snout, small black eyes and rounded pink ears.

[2] The Alpine shrew is found in the mountains and uplands of Central and Eastern Europe and parts of France.

[3] It tends to lurk in dense vegetation, occupies rock crevices and lives under boulders or fallen branches and often occurs near mountain huts.

It eats insects, spiders, snails and earthworms and is in turn the prey of foxes, weasels, domestic cats and tawny owls.