Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Order
- Eulipotyphla
- Family
- Soricidae
- Genus
- Crocidura
Habitat
This species primarily inhabits moist tropical forests and savannas in West Africa, particularly in areas with dense undergrowth and proximity to water sources in countries like Ivory Coast and Guinea. It prefers lowland regions with leaf litter and vegetation cover for foraging and shelter.
Diet
Lamotte's shrew feeds mainly on insects such as beetles and ants, as well as earthworms and other small invertebrates. It is an active forager, hunting primarily at night with a high metabolic rate that requires frequent feeding.
Behavior
Lamotte's shrew is solitary and primarily nocturnal, spending its active hours foraging for food in leaf litter. It exhibits territorial behavior, marking areas with scent and aggressively defending them from others of its species, while also showing quick, erratic movements to evade threats.
Conservation Status
Lamotte's shrew is classified as Data Deficient by the IUCN due to limited data on its population status and trends. Major threats likely include habitat loss from deforestation in West Africa.