In a world fascinated by the biggest, tallest and most impressive creatures, it is easy to forget that some of nature's greatest wonders are the ones we almost never notice. Sometimes they are hidden beneath fallen leaves, moving quietly through the grass, or disappearing into the undergrowth before we even realise they were there.
The pygmy shrew (Sorex minutus) is a perfect example. Ireland's smallest mammal may be tiny, but it certainly makes up…