Colombian Small-eared Shrew vs Mountain Aster

Cryptotis colombiana compared with Oclemena acuminata

Key Differences

• Colombian Small-eared Shrew is Least Concern while Mountain Aster is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Colombian Small-eared Shrew	Mountain Aster
Kingdom	Animalia (Animals)	Plantae (Plants)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)
Order	Soricomorpha (Soricomorpha)	Asterales (Daisies & Sunflowers)
Family	Soricidae	Asteraceae (Daisy Family)
Genus	Cryptotis	Oclemena
Species	Cryptotis colombiana	Oclemena acuminata

Conservation Status

Colombian Small-eared Shrew

LC — Least Concern

Mountain Aster

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Colombian Small-eared Shrew	Mountain Aster
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.

Mountain Aster

Habitat

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

Range

Distributed across Canada and 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.