Does the Mediterranean water shrew Neomys anomalus (Soricidae, Eulipotyphla) expand the eastern part of the distribution range?

The Mediterranean water shrew Neomys anomalus is sparsely distributed across the major part of Eastern Europe.There is a large amount of new information about the enlargement of the distribution range of the species during last 2 to 3 decades.We analysed species distribution, variation of cytochrome b gene and character of appearance of new records on species distribution.We suggest that the "expansion" of the Mediterranean water shrew is rather a result of more thorough faunal studies than of a natural expansion of the species range.