Colombian Small-eared Shrew vs Common Ringlet

Cryptotis colombiana compared with Coenonympha tullia

Key Differences

• Colombian Small-eared Shrew is Least Concern while Common Ringlet is Extinct.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Colombian Small-eared Shrew	Common Ringlet
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Soricomorpha (Soricomorpha)	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family	Soricidae	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus	Cryptotis	Coenonympha
Species	Cryptotis colombiana	Coenonympha tullia

Evolutionary Relationship

Colombian Small-eared Shrew and Common Ringlet share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Animals)

Conservation Status

Colombian Small-eared Shrew

LC — Least Concern

Common Ringlet

EX — Extinct

Physical Characteristics

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

Habitat & Geographic Range

Colombian Small-eared Shrew

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Found in Colombia.

Common Ringlet

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Found across Europe (27 countries) and North America (Canada, United States).

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.

Common Ringlet

Common Ringlet (Coenonympha tullia) is classified as Extinct (EX) on the IUCN Red List. This species has been declared extinct, with no known living individuals remaining in the wild or in captivity.