Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Order
- Eulipotyphla
- Family
- Soricidae
- Genus
- Cryptotis
Habitat
This shrew inhabits the humid tropical forests of the Darién region in eastern Panama, favoring areas with dense undergrowth and leaf litter. It prefers lowland and montane forests up to about 1,000 meters elevation, often near streams or moist soil. These environments provide cover and abundant prey.
Diet
The Darién small-eared shrew primarily consumes insects, earthworms, and other small invertebrates like spiders and centipedes. It forages actively on the ground, using its sensitive snout to detect prey, and feeds frequently throughout the day and night due to its high metabolic rate. This feeding behavior helps it maintain energy in its humid forest habitat.
Behavior
The Darién small-eared shrew is solitary and territorial, defending small areas with scent markings. It is primarily nocturnal, emerging at night to forage rapidly through leaf litter while avoiding detection. These shrews exhibit high activity levels and quick movements to evade predators, and they create shallow burrows for resting.
Conservation Status
The IUCN Red List classifies Cryptotis mera as Data Deficient due to insufficient information on its population status. Major threats include habitat destruction from deforestation and agriculture in Panama.