Asian lesser white-toothed shrew
Scientific name Crocidura shantungensis. A small shrew species found in East Asia. Typically written in katakana as コジネズミ.
The Asian lesser white-toothed shrew is distributed in East Asia, including Japan.
Asian lesser white-toothed shrews are often seen in this area.
Katakana spelling is standard for this species name; usually written in kana.
Kanji form is rare and may not be widely recognized; no priority is specified.
Compound of 小 (ko, 'small') + 地鼠 (jinezumi, 'shrew'). The exact derivation is straightforward; the word follows standard Japanese naming patterns for small mammals.