Eurasian Least Shrew vs Thyme Plume

Sorex minutissimus compared with Merrifieldia leucodactyla

Key Differences

• Eurasian Least Shrew is Least Concern while Thyme Plume is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Eurasian Least Shrew	Thyme Plume
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Soricomorpha (Soricomorpha)	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family	Soricidae	Pterophoridae
Genus	Sorex	Merrifieldia
Species	Sorex minutissimus	Merrifieldia leucodactyla

Evolutionary Relationship

Eurasian Least Shrew and Thyme Plume share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Animals)

Conservation Status

Eurasian Least Shrew

LC — Least Concern

Thyme Plume

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Eurasian Least Shrew	Thyme Plume
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Eurasian Least Shrew

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Distributed across Norway, Russia, and Sweden.

Thyme Plume

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, temperate coniferous forests, and temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, among 8 distinct biome types spanning the Indomalayan and Palearctic realms. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (Algeria, Morocco), Asia (7 countries), and Europe (35 countries). Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 3 countries:

🇳🇴 Norway 🇷🇺 Russia 🇸🇪 Sweden