They are found throughout Alaska, even on some isolated islands. As yet no shrews have been found on the Aleutian Island chain west of False Pass. The family is distributed throughout the world except Greenland, Australia, southern South American and some Pacific islands. Most are a grayish-brown coloration with a paler colored belly. Some are distinctly bicolored.
Shrews are short-legged and have a long pointed nose with long whiskers.
Their teeth are tiny, white with reddish-brown tips, but sharp for attacking and eating prey. Their tails are hairy in young shrews but usually naked in old adults. Shrews have musk glands that give off a strong odor, especially when handled. Their eyes are tiny and vision is poor, but they have acute senses of smell and hearing. Most of the species are genetically related to other species in Asia or North America.