Elegant Water Shrew vs Eurasian pygmy shrew

Nectogale elegans compared with Sorex minutus

Key Differences

• Elegant Water Shrew is Least Concern while Eurasian pygmy shrew is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Elegant Water Shrew	Eurasian pygmy shrew
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class same	Mammalia (Mammals)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order same	Soricomorpha (Soricomorpha)	Soricomorpha (Soricomorpha)
Family same	Soricidae	Soricidae
Genus	Nectogale	Sorex
Species	Nectogale elegans	Sorex minutus

Evolutionary Relationship

Elegant Water Shrew and Eurasian pygmy shrew share a common ancestor at the Family level: Soricidae.

Conservation Status

Elegant Water Shrew

LC — Least Concern

Eurasian pygmy shrew

VU — Vulnerable

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Elegant Water Shrew	Eurasian pygmy shrew
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Elegant Water Shrew

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Eurasian pygmy shrew

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Found across Europe (6 countries). Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Eurasian pygmy shrew

Eurasian pygmy shrew (Sorex minutus) is classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List. Facing a high risk of endangerment in the wild, with declining populations and increasing habitat pressure.