Gray Red-backed Vole vs Taita Shrew

Myodes rufocanus compared with Suncus aequatorius

Key Differences

• Gray Red-backed Vole is Least Concern while Taita Shrew is Critically Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Gray Red-backed Vole	Taita Shrew
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class same	Mammalia (Mammals)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Rodentia (Rodents)	Soricomorpha (Soricomorpha)
Family	Cricetidae	Soricidae
Genus	Myodes	Suncus
Species	Myodes rufocanus	Suncus aequatorius

Evolutionary Relationship

Gray Red-backed Vole and Taita Shrew share a common ancestor at the Class level: Mammalia. (Mammals)

Conservation Status

Gray Red-backed Vole

LC — Least Concern

Taita Shrew

CR — Critically Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Gray Red-backed Vole	Taita Shrew
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Gray Red-backed Vole

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Found in Norway.

Taita 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 Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.