A relatively small, pale shrew. Upperparts in summer are grayish drab above, becoming paler on flanks, with nearly white underparts (faintly tinged with buff); winter pelage is brighter, drab above, paler below; tail is distinctly bicolored, sparsely haired, drab above, white below; total length 88-107 mm (mean 96.3 mm); tail length 33-42 mm (mean 36.2 m); hind foot 11-13 mm (mean 12.2 mm); condylobasal length of skull 15.7-17.1 mm (mean 16.3 mm); mass 4.4-6.5 g (mean 5.9 g) (Armstrong and Jones 1971).