Dark Smudge vs Eurasian water shrew

Ypsolopha horridella compared with Neomys fodiens

Key Differences

• Dark Smudge is Least Concern while Eurasian water shrew is Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Dark Smudge	Eurasian water shrew
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Arthropoda (Arthropods)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Insecta (Insects)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)	Soricomorpha (Soricomorpha)
Family	Ypsolophidae	Soricidae
Genus	Ypsolopha	Neomys
Species	Ypsolopha horridella	Neomys fodiens

Evolutionary Relationship

Dark Smudge and Eurasian water shrew share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Animals)

Conservation Status

Dark Smudge

LC — Least Concern

Eurasian water shrew

EN — Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Dark Smudge	Eurasian water shrew
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Dark Smudge

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

Eurasian water shrew

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Russia, and Sweden. Currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Eurasian water shrew

Eurasian water shrew (Neomys fodiens) is classified as Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List. At high risk of extinction in the wild, with significant population decline and ongoing threats to survival.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 4 countries:

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden