Alpine Shrew vs clay triple-lines

Sorex alpinus compared with Cyclophora linearia

Key Differences

  • Alpine Shrew is Near Threatened while clay triple-lines is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank Alpine Shrew clay triple-lines
Kingdom same Animalia (Animals) Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Chordata (Chordates) Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class Mammalia (Mammals) Insecta (Insects)
Order Soricomorpha (Soricomorpha) Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family Soricidae Geometridae
Genus Sorex Cyclophora
Species Sorex alpinus Cyclophora linearia

Evolutionary Relationship

Alpine Shrew and clay triple-lines share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Animals)

Conservation Status

Alpine Shrew

NT — Near Threatened

clay triple-lines

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute Alpine Shrew clay triple-lines
Diet
Average Lifespan
Average Length
Average Weight

Habitat & Geographic Range

Alpine Shrew

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Found in Ukraine. Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

clay triple-lines

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

Alpine Shrew

The Alpine Shrew (Sorex alpinus) is a species in the genus Sorex. It is currently classified as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Found in Ukraine. Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

clay triple-lines

The Clay Triple-lines, Cyclophora linearia, is a geometrid moth in the family Geometridae found across Europe and temperate Asia, inhabiting deciduous woodland, hedgerows, and scrubby areas where its larval host plant beech (Fagus sylvatica) is present. The forewings are pale clay-buff to cream, crossed by three distinct darker brown or ochreous lines from which the common name derives, with a small darker discal spot. The hindwings are similarly patterned but slightly paler. The species is well camouflaged at rest on bark and dead wood. Adults are crepuscular and nocturnal, flying in two generations per year in much of its range, with adults on the wing in spring and again in summer. The larvae feed on the young leaves of beech trees, and the species is strongly associated with mature beech woodland throughout its range. As beech woodland becomes increasingly threatened by climate change, drought stress, and changing forest management practices across Europe, specialist beech-associated insects like the Clay Triple-lines may face habitat contractions. The species is currently widespread and not considered globally threatened, but national populations show variation in abundance tied to the health of beech forest habitats.

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