vs Colombian Small-eared Shrew

Chrysothrix candelaris compared with Cryptotis colombiana

Taxonomic Classification

Rank		Colombian Small-eared Shrew
Kingdom	Fungi (Fungi)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Ascomycota (Sac Fungi)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Arthoniomycetes (Arthoniomycetes)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Arthoniales (Arthoniales)	Soricomorpha (Soricomorpha)
Family	Chrysotrichaceae	Soricidae
Genus	Chrysothrix	Cryptotis
Species	Chrysothrix candelaris	Cryptotis colombiana

Conservation Status

LC — Least Concern

Colombian Small-eared Shrew

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

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

Habitat & Geographic Range

Habitat

Native to Europe and South America, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Found across Europe (4 countries) and South America (Brazil, Colombia).

Colombian Small-eared Shrew

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Found in Colombia.

Chrysothrix candelaris, commonly known as the gold dust lichen or egg yolk lichen, is a distinctive sorediate crustose lichen formed by the mutualistic association of a fungal partner (Chrysothrix candelaris, class Arthoniomycetes) with green algal photobionts. The lichen is immediately recognizable by its bright chrome-yellow to yellow-orange powdery soredia — granular reproductive propagules — which form a continuous farinose crust on the bark of acidic-barked trees, rock surfaces, and decaying wood in shaded, humid conditions. The vivid yellow color is due to calycin and other xanthone pigments. C. candelaris is widely distributed across Europe, North America, and South America, growing on smooth-barked deciduous and coniferous trees, boulders, and cliff faces in woodland and boreal forest habitats. It is assessed as Least Concern by the IUCN, reflecting its broad distribution and tolerance of a range of microhabitats. The lichen serves as a bioindicator of old-growth forest conditions and is sometimes used in air quality monitoring, as it is moderately sensitive to sulfur dioxide pollution. C. candelaris reproduces vegetatively through the dispersal of soredia by wind, water, and animals, which carry photobiont and mycobiont cells together.

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.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 1 countries:

🇨🇴 Colombia