Chinese Shrew vs Common Sunda Toad

Sorex sinalis compared with Duttaphrynus melanostictus

Key Differences

• Chinese Shrew is Data Deficient while Common Sunda Toad is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Chinese Shrew	Common Sunda Toad
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Amphibia (Amphibians)
Order	Soricomorpha (Soricomorpha)	Anura (Frogs & Toads)
Family	Soricidae	Bufonidae
Genus	Sorex	Duttaphrynus
Species	Sorex sinalis	Duttaphrynus melanostictus

Evolutionary Relationship

Chinese Shrew and Common Sunda Toad share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (Chordates)

Conservation Status

Chinese Shrew

DD — Data Deficient

Common Sunda Toad

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Chinese Shrew	Common Sunda Toad
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Chinese Shrew

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Common Sunda Toad

Habitat

Typically found in freshwater habitats, moist forests, and wetlands.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (Madagascar), Asia (4 countries), and Europe (Spain).

Chinese Shrew

The Chinese Shrew (Sorex sinalis) is a species in the genus Sorex. It is currently classified as Data Deficient on the IUCN Red List.

Common Sunda Toad

<em>Duttaphrynus melanostictus</em>, the common Sunda toad, is an amphibian in the family Bufonidae, order Anura. It has a wide natural distribution across South and Southeast Asia, ranging from Pakistan and India through to southern China, the Malay Peninsula, and the Indonesian archipelago, and has also been introduced to Madagascar. The species typically inhabits a broad range of environments including urban areas, agricultural land, forest edges, gardens, and disturbed habitats, demonstrating remarkable adaptability to human-modified landscapes. <em>Duttaphrynus melanostictus</em> is characterized by prominent parotoid glands behind the eyes that secrete toxic compounds serving as a defense against predators, a feature shared with other true toads. It is an opportunistic carnivore, feeding on a variety of invertebrates including insects, worms, and small arthropods. Biological traits including average lifespan under natural conditions, typical body measurements, and specific breeding parameters remain poorly documented. The species is assessed as Least Concern by the IUCN, reflecting its extensive range and high tolerance for habitat modification, though introduced populations in Madagascar represent a potentially invasive concern.