Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Order
- Eulipotyphla
- Family
- Soricidae
- Genus
- Sorex
Habitat
Kozlov's shrew inhabits mountainous regions of Central Asia, including Mongolia and northern China, at elevations up to 3,000 meters. It prefers alpine meadows, rocky slopes, and coniferous forests that offer cover and moisture. These areas provide access to underground tunnels and damp microhabitats.
Diet
Kozlov's shrew primarily eats insects, earthworms, and other small invertebrates like spiders and snails. It forages actively both day and night due to its high metabolic rate, using its sensitive snout to detect prey in soil and leaf litter. Feeding occurs frequently to sustain its energy demands.
Behavior
Kozlov's shrew is solitary and territorial, defending small home ranges with scent markings. It is primarily nocturnal, emerging to forage rapidly through undergrowth, and exhibits high activity levels with frequent vocalizations. These shrews dig shallow burrows for shelter and rarely interact socially except during mating.
Conservation Status
Kozlov's shrew is classified as Data Deficient by the IUCN due to limited data on its population. Major threats include habitat degradation from climate change and human development in mountainous areas.