Black-backed jackal vs Taita Shrew

Canis mesomelas compared with Suncus aequatorius

Key Differences

• Black-backed jackal is Least Concern while Taita Shrew is Critically Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Black-backed jackal	Taita Shrew
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class same	Mammalia (Mammals)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Carnivora (Carnivorans)	Soricomorpha (Soricomorpha)
Family	Canidae (Dogs & Wolves)	Soricidae
Genus	Canis (Dogs & Wolves)	Suncus
Species	Canis mesomelas	Suncus aequatorius

Evolutionary Relationship

Black-backed jackal and Taita Shrew share a common ancestor at the Class level: Mammalia. (Mammals)

Conservation Status

Black-backed jackal

LC — Least Concern

Taita Shrew

CR — Critically Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Black-backed jackal	Taita Shrew
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Black-backed jackal

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Taita Shrew

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical grasslands and savannas, and flooded grasslands and savannas, among 5 distinct biome types within the Afrotropic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

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

Black-backed jackal

The Black-backed jackal (Canis mesomelas) is a species in the genus Canis. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.