Big Astragalus vs Colombian Small-eared Shrew

Astragalus magnificus compared with Cryptotis colombiana

Key Differences

• Big Astragalus is Critically Endangered while Colombian Small-eared Shrew is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Big Astragalus	Colombian Small-eared Shrew
Kingdom	Plantae (Plants)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Fabales (Legumes & Allies)	Soricomorpha (Soricomorpha)
Family	Fabaceae	Soricidae
Genus	Astragalus	Cryptotis
Species	Astragalus magnificus	Cryptotis colombiana

Conservation Status

Big Astragalus

CR — Critically Endangered

Colombian Small-eared Shrew

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Big Astragalus	Colombian Small-eared Shrew
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Big Astragalus

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.

Colombian Small-eared Shrew

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Found in Colombia.

Big Astragalus

The Big Astragalus (Astragalus magnificus) is a species in the genus Astragalus. It is currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.

Colombian Small-eared Shrew

<em>Cryptotis colombiana</em>, the Colombian small-eared shrew, is a diminutive insectivorous mammal belonging to the family Soricidae, endemic to Colombia. This species typically inhabits montane environments, including humid cloud forests and high-altitude grasslands known locally as páramo, where it forages actively through leaf litter and soil for invertebrate prey. Small-eared shrews of the genus <em>Cryptotis</em> are characterised by their notably reduced external ears, high metabolic rates, and nearly constant activity cycles driven by the energetic demands of maintaining body temperature. <em>Cryptotis colombiana</em> is currently assessed as Least Concern by the IUCN, suggesting that its population is relatively stable within its Colombian range. Despite this status, Andean shrews face ongoing pressures from land conversion, cattle grazing in páramo ecosystems, and climate-driven shifts in vegetation zones. The species contributes to soil aeration and invertebrate population regulation within its montane habitat. Biological traits of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.