Brazilian Shrew-mouse

The appearance of the Brazilian shrew mouse is often compared to that of small insectivorous shrews or moles with small, reduced eyes, short ears and tail, and short, soft fur. Its mole-like appearance contributes to its ability to be differentiated from other rodents in its Neotropical habitat. Overall, its specialized body structure lends itself to the animal's subterranean life, with broad forefeet and large claws for digging. It has a long snout that is used to find insects in the ground and highly developed jaw muscles that help to close the mouth quickly, as to avoid swallowing dirt. The species has demonstrated sexual dimorphism in that females are usually slightly larger than males.

Very little is known about the diet of B. breviceps, however it is assumed to be primarily insectivorous. When studied in captivity, many specimens refuse food and die within a few days. However, some captive organisms have been shown to eat a variety of insects including crickets, moths and butterflies, and roaches. Overall, they tend to refuse other food sources such as fruits or seeds.