Editing American pygmy shrew (section)

== Lifecycle and reproduction ==
Little is known about the reproductive cycle of pygmy shrews. They appear to mate year round, with a bias of births occurring from November through March.<ref name="HabitatBodySizeTiming">{{Cite journal|title=Habitat Partitioning, Body Size, and Timing of Parturition in Pygmy Shrews and Associated Soricids|journal=Journal of Mammalogy|date=1993-05-21|issn=0022-2372|pages=403–411|volume=74|issue=2|doi=10.2307/1382396|first1=George A.|last1=Feldhamer|first2=Ronald S.|last2=Klann|first3=Anthony S.|last3=Gerard|first4=Amy C.|last4=Driskell|jstor=1382396}}</ref> The [[gestation period]] is estimated to last about 18 days.<ref name="PygmyShrewAnimalDiversity" /> Females produce a litter of three to eight young, and only give birth once a year. The age the young are [[Weaning|weaned]] is not known with certainty, but by 18 days old, they are nearly full grown, and are usually independent by 25 days.<ref name="HabitatBodySizeTiming" /> Being mammals, the mother nourishes her young with milk. The maximum lifespan of a pygmy shrew is not known, but it is believed to be about 16–17 months.<ref name="HabitatBodySizeTiming" />