The MagazineCanada

A new shrew has been identified in the Congo Basin, a region known for its dense rainforests, tangled vines, and slow, winding rivers. At first glance the animal seems almost unassuming—a small mammal with a plain fur coat and a quiet pace. Yet scientists who studied the creature quickly realized that something remarkable lies beneath its modest exterior. The specimen has been given the scientific name Scutisorex thori, and it carries a nickname that reflects the awe it inspires: Thor’s hero shrew. The name nods to a mythic figure famed for strength, and the resemblance is not accidental. In the Congo, where every inch of forest floor hides a potential clue, this shrew stands out for a spine that appears unusually well equipped to bear weight and resist compression. The most striking claim about this animal is that it possesses twice the number of lower vertebrae as humans, a feature that immediately invites questions about how it uses its back to survive in a challenging environment. While researchers are still piecing together the exact reasons for these extra bones, the working theory is that they help distribute strain across the torso and enable the creature to maneuver through heavy leaf litter, under fallen logs, and into tight crevices with less risk of injury. In short, the Thor’s hero shrew looks small, but its skeleton hints at a built-in resilience that surprises even seasoned field biologists.