Fledershrews were a species of bat that were near extinction on their home planet. Fledershrews gnawed at the rafters of the House of Lungbarrow. (PROSE: Lungbarrow) The Fifth Doctor described them as a common TARDIS pest. (AUDIO: And You Will Obey Me)
During his seventh and eighth incarnations, the Doctor allowed an entire colony of Fledershrews to live in his TARDIS. (AUDIO: Black and White, Nevermore, Relative Dimensions)
Shortly after, the Doctor's granddaughter Susan Campbell and great-grandson Alex Campbell arrived in the TARDIS to celebrate Christmas with his eighth incarnation and Lucie Miller, the Fledershrews were killed by a Blitzen fish that the Doctor had purchased for Susan in his First incarnation. At the time they presumed that it was dead, though Susan still admired its beautiful colours. (AUDIO: Quinnis) In fact, it was in hibernation and had continued to grow until it was disturbed by the Doctor retrieving Susan's room from the TARDIS holding ring. (AUDIO: Relative Dimensions)
After the Reborn Master (in the Decayed Master's body) crashed his TARDIS in Hexford in 1984, it was left vacant for thirty two years. A colony of Fledershrews established themselves in the console room. (AUDIO: And You Will Obey Me)
During the Last Great Time War, the Eighth Doctor ejected the Fledershrews - ones that had apparently either survived the Blitzen fish or moved in after its attack - in his TARDIS while ejecting the Vashta Nerada that were also on board. He intended to pick them up again afterwards. (AUDIO: Day of the Vashta Nerada)
Behind the Scenes[]
The name Fledershrew may be a reference to "fledermaus", a German term for bats.
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