Etruscan Shrew vs Least Moonwort

Suncus etruscus compared with Botrychium simplex

Key Differences

Etruscan Shrew is Least Concern while Least Moonwort is Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Etruscan Shrew	Least Moonwort
Kingdom	Animalia (Animals)	Plantae (Plants)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Tracheophyta
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Polypodiopsida (Polypodiopsida)
Order	Soricomorpha (Soricomorpha)	Ophioglossales (Ophioglossales)
Family	Soricidae	Ophioglossaceae
Genus	Suncus	Botrychium
Species	Suncus etruscus	Botrychium simplex

Conservation Status

Etruscan Shrew

LC — Least Concern

Least Moonwort

EN — Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Etruscan Shrew	Least Moonwort
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Etruscan Shrew

Habitat

Inhabits deserts and xeric shrublands within the Afrotropic biogeographic realm.

Range

Found across Asia (Cyprus, Yemen) and Europe (6 countries).

Least Moonwort

Habitat

Inhabits boreal forests and taiga within the Palearctic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Found across Europe (8 countries) and North America (United States). Currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Etruscan Shrew

Etruscan Shrew (Suncus etruscus) is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List. Widespread and abundant across its range, with stable populations and no immediate conservation concerns.