Etruscan Shrew vs Least Puffball

Suncus etruscus compared with Bovista limosa

Key Differences

• Etruscan Shrew is Least Concern while Least Puffball is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Etruscan Shrew	Least Puffball
Kingdom	Animalia (Animals)	Fungi (Fungi)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Basidiomycota (Club Fungi)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)
Order	Soricomorpha (Soricomorpha)	Agaricales (Gilled Mushrooms)
Family	Soricidae	Lycoperdaceae
Genus	Suncus	Bovista
Species	Suncus etruscus	Bovista limosa

Conservation Status

Etruscan Shrew

LC — Least Concern

Least Puffball

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Etruscan Shrew	Least Puffball
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 Puffball

Habitat

Typically found in forest floors, decomposing wood, and soil ecosystems.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Norway, and Sweden. Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

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.