Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Order
- Eulipotyphla
- Family
- Soricidae
- Genus
- Suncus
Habitat
The Flores shrew inhabits forests, shrublands, and grasslands on Flores Island in Indonesia. It prefers moist, lowland areas with dense vegetation and leaf litter for cover. This species is adaptable and can also be found in disturbed habitats like agricultural edges.
Diet
The Flores shrew primarily eats insects such as beetles, ants, and earthworms, along with other small invertebrates. It forages actively at night using its keen sense of smell to locate prey in leaf litter and soil. Feeding behavior is opportunistic, with individuals consuming food frequently due to their high metabolic rate.
Behavior
The Flores shrew is solitary and nocturnal, spending the day hidden in burrows or under logs to avoid predators. It exhibits territorial behavior, marking areas with scent glands, and is highly active, moving quickly to hunt for food. These shrews are aggressive when encountering rivals and communicate through vocalizations and scent.
Conservation Status
The IUCN Red List classifies the Flores shrew as Least Concern, with a stable population trend, though habitat loss from deforestation poses a potential threat. No major conservation efforts are currently in place for this species.