Common Least Skipper vs Eurasian Least Shrew

Ancyloxypha numitor compared with Sorex minutissimus

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Common Least Skipper	Eurasian Least Shrew
Kingdom same	Animalia (สัตว์)	Animalia (สัตว์)
Phylum	Arthropoda (สัตว์ขาปล้อง)	Chordata (สัตว์มีแกนสันหลัง)
Class	Insecta (แมลง)	Mammalia (สัตว์เลี้ยงลูกด้วยน้ำนม)
Order	Lepidoptera (ผีเสื้อ)	Soricomorpha (อันดับตุ่น)
Family	Hesperiidae	Soricidae
Genus	Ancyloxypha	Sorex
Species	Ancyloxypha numitor	Sorex minutissimus

Evolutionary Relationship

Common Least Skipper and Eurasian Least Shrew share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (สัตว์)

Conservation Status

Common Least Skipper

LC — Least Concern

Eurasian Least Shrew

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Common Least Skipper	Eurasian Least Shrew
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Common Least Skipper

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Distributed across Canada and United States.

Eurasian Least Shrew

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Distributed across Norway, Russia, and Sweden.

Common Least Skipper

The Common Least Skipper (<em>Ancyloxypha numitor</em>) is a small butterfly in the family Hesperiidae, classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. It is native to Canada and the United States, where it typically inhabits virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats within its range, showing a particular affinity for moist, grassy areas near water. The species is among the smallest skippers in North America, characterized by orange and brown wing coloration and a rapid, low-flying flight pattern close to vegetation. Adults typically nectar on small flowers while larvae feed on grasses, particularly those in wet meadows, marshes, stream margins, and disturbed grassy areas. The Common Least Skipper is frequently observed in wetland margins, wet prairies, and roadsides with rank grass growth. Its wide distribution across North America and habitat generalism across moist grassland and wetland types support its stable population and Least Concern conservation status. Biological traits of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.