AbstractThere are about 60 species of shrews of the genusSorexdistributed over the Nearctic and Palaearctic regions; these are usually divided into the subgeneraSorex, OtisorexandMicrosorex. The Old World species are listed and their phylogeny discussed, with special emphasis laid on the karyotypes. It is proposed that the Old World forms should be divided into the subgeneraHomalurus, SorexandOtisorex. It is also suggested that the subgenusSorexcould be divided into at least three taxonomic units.