American water shrew vs Cuetzalan Salamander

Sorex palustris compared with Aquiloeurycea quetzalanensis

Key Differences

• American water shrew is Least Concern while Cuetzalan Salamander is Critically Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	American water shrew	Cuetzalan Salamander
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Amphibia (Amphibians)
Order	Soricomorpha (Soricomorpha)	Caudata (Caudata)
Family	Soricidae	Plethodontidae
Genus	Sorex	Aquiloeurycea
Species	Sorex palustris	Aquiloeurycea quetzalanensis

Evolutionary Relationship

American water shrew and Cuetzalan Salamander share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (Chordates)

Conservation Status

American water shrew

LC — Least Concern

Cuetzalan Salamander

CR — Critically Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	American water shrew	Cuetzalan Salamander
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

American water shrew

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Found in United States.

Cuetzalan Salamander

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical coniferous forests, tropical and subtropical grasslands and savannas, and Mediterranean forests and woodlands, among 6 distinct biome types spanning the Nearctic and Neotropic realms. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Found in Mexico. Currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

American water shrew

The American water shrew (Sorex palustris) is a species in the genus Sorex. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.