Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Order
- Eulipotyphla
- Family
- Talpidae
- Genus
- Uropsilus
Habitat
This species primarily inhabits mountainous regions in western China, such as Sichuan and Yunnan provinces, in moist coniferous forests and alpine meadows with loose, well-drained soils. It prefers elevations between 2000 and 4000 meters, where it digs burrows in the undergrowth and avoids open or arid areas.
Diet
Anderson's shrew mole feeds mainly on earthworms, insects like beetles and larvae, and other soil invertebrates. It uses its sensitive snout to detect and capture prey while foraging underground, typically at night or during twilight hours.
Behavior
Anderson's shrew mole is solitary and territorial, marking its burrows with scent to defend against intruders. It is primarily fossorial and nocturnal, spending most of its time digging tunnels in search of food and only occasionally surfacing. These animals are agile diggers and may exhibit rapid, erratic movements when threatened.
Conservation Status
The IUCN status of Anderson's shrew mole is Data Deficient due to insufficient data on its population and distribution. Major threats include habitat loss from deforestation and potential impacts from climate change in its high-elevation range.