American Toad vs Colombian Small-eared Shrew

Anaxyrus americanus compared with Cryptotis colombiana

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	American Toad	Colombian Small-eared Shrew
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (cordados)	Chordata (cordados)
Class	Amphibia (Anfíbios)	Mammalia (mamíferos)
Order	Anura (Frogs & Toads)	Soricomorpha (Soricomorpha)
Family	Bufonidae	Soricidae
Genus	Anaxyrus	Cryptotis
Species	Anaxyrus americanus	Cryptotis colombiana

Evolutionary Relationship

American Toad and Colombian Small-eared Shrew share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (cordados)

Conservation Status

American Toad

LC — Least Concern

Colombian Small-eared Shrew

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	American Toad	Colombian Small-eared Shrew
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

American Toad

Habitat

Typically found in freshwater habitats, moist forests, and wetlands.

Range

Found in United States.

Colombian Small-eared Shrew

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Found in Colombia.

American Toad

The American Toad (Anaxyrus americanus) is a species in the genus Anaxyrus. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in freshwater habitats, moist forests, and wetlands.

Colombian Small-eared Shrew

<em>Cryptotis colombiana</em>, the Colombian small-eared shrew, is a diminutive insectivorous mammal belonging to the family Soricidae, endemic to Colombia. This species typically inhabits montane environments, including humid cloud forests and high-altitude grasslands known locally as páramo, where it forages actively through leaf litter and soil for invertebrate prey. Small-eared shrews of the genus <em>Cryptotis</em> are characterised by their notably reduced external ears, high metabolic rates, and nearly constant activity cycles driven by the energetic demands of maintaining body temperature. <em>Cryptotis colombiana</em> is currently assessed as Least Concern by the IUCN, suggesting that its population is relatively stable within its Colombian range. Despite this status, Andean shrews face ongoing pressures from land conversion, cattle grazing in páramo ecosystems, and climate-driven shifts in vegetation zones. The species contributes to soil aeration and invertebrate population regulation within its montane habitat. Biological traits of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.