Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Order
- Eulipotyphla
- Family
- Soricidae
- Genus
- Cryptotis
Habitat
This shrew inhabits moist forests, grasslands, and shrublands in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. It prefers areas with dense ground cover, leaf litter, and proximity to water sources for foraging and shelter.
Diet
Merriam's small-eared shrew primarily eats insects, earthworms, and other invertebrates like spiders and snails. It forages actively both day and night, using its sensitive snout to detect and capture prey in leaf litter or soil.
Behavior
Merriam's small-eared shrew is solitary and territorial, marking its area with scent and aggressively defending it from others. It is primarily nocturnal, spending the day in burrows or under logs, and exhibits high activity levels while foraging. This species is known for its rapid metabolism, requiring constant food intake to survive.
Conservation Status
The IUCN status is Least Concern, with a stable population trend and no major threats identified across its range.