Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Order
- Eulipotyphla
- Family
- Soricidae
- Genus
- Paracrocidura
Habitat
This species inhabits montane forests and bamboo thickets in the Albertine Rift of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, preferring moist, dense undergrowth at elevations between 1,500 and 3,000 meters. It is typically found in areas with abundant leaf litter and rotting logs for cover.
Diet
Grauer's large-headed shrew primarily eats insects such as beetles and ants, along with earthworms and other invertebrates. It forages actively at night, using its keen sense of smell to locate prey in the forest floor litter.
Behavior
This shrew is solitary and nocturnal, spending its active hours foraging for food in the undergrowth while avoiding open areas. It exhibits territorial behavior, marking its range with scent and reacting aggressively to intruders, and has a high metabolic rate requiring constant eating.
Conservation Status
Grauer's large-headed shrew is classified as Endangered by the IUCN due to habitat loss from deforestation and agriculture in the Albertine Rift. Population trends are declining, with major threats including fragmentation of montane forests and potential impacts from climate change.