The genus Crocidura is one of nine genera of the shrew subfamily Crocidurinae.

[4] They are found throughout all tropical and temperate regions of the Old World, from South Africa north to Europe, and east throughout Asia, as far east as the Malay Archipelago.

They likely originated in Africa or Asia Minor during the Miocene, spread to Europe by the early Pliocene, and spread to eastern Asia and the Mediterranean by the Pleistocene.

[19] Crocidura shrews were embalmed in Ancient Egypt, being associated with the dark aspect of the god Horus.

Many of these mummies have been uncovered during excavations at the Falcon Necropolis, providing important information about the former diversity of shrews in this area.