Eurasian pygmy shrew vs European Mole

Sorex minutus compared with Talpa europaea

Key Differences

• Eurasian pygmy shrew is Vulnerable while European Mole is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Eurasian pygmy shrew	European Mole
Kingdom same	Animalia (животные)	Animalia (животные)
Phylum same	Chordata (хордовые)	Chordata (хордовые)
Class same	Mammalia (млекопитающие)	Mammalia (млекопитающие)
Order same	Soricomorpha (землеройкообразные)	Soricomorpha (землеройкообразные)
Family	Soricidae	Talpidae
Genus	Sorex	Talpa
Species	Sorex minutus	Talpa europaea

Evolutionary Relationship

Eurasian pygmy shrew and European Mole share a common ancestor at the Order level: Soricomorpha. (землеройкообразные)

Conservation Status

Eurasian pygmy shrew

VU — Vulnerable

European Mole

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Eurasian pygmy shrew	European Mole
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.

European Mole

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, and Sweden.

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.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 3 countries:

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇸🇪 Sweden