Eurasian pygmy shrew vs Golden-rumped elephant shrew

Sorex minutus compared with Rhynchocyon chrysopygus

Key Differences

Eurasian pygmy shrew is Vulnerable while Golden-rumped elephant shrew is Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Eurasian pygmy shrew	Golden-rumped elephant shrew
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class same	Mammalia (Mammals)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Soricomorpha (Soricomorpha)	Macroscelidea (Macroscelidea)
Family	Soricidae	Macroscelididae
Genus	Sorex	Rhynchocyon
Species	Sorex minutus	Rhynchocyon chrysopygus

Evolutionary Relationship

Eurasian pygmy shrew and Golden-rumped elephant shrew share a common ancestor at the Class level: Mammalia. (Mammals)

View Class: Mammalia

Conservation Status

Eurasian pygmy shrew

VU — Vulnerable

Golden-rumped elephant shrew

EN — Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Eurasian pygmy shrew	Golden-rumped elephant shrew
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

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.

Golden-rumped elephant shrew

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical grasslands and savannas, and flooded grasslands and savannas, among 5 distinct biome types within the Afrotropic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Found in Kenya. Currently classified as Endangered 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.