Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Order
- Eulipotyphla
- Family
- Soricidae
- Genus
- Solisorex
Habitat
This shrew is found in the moist deciduous forests and grasslands of the Western Ghats in India, typically at elevations between 500 and 1500 meters. It prefers areas near streams and rivers, where the undergrowth provides cover and moisture.
Diet
Pearson's long-clawed shrew primarily eats insects, earthworms, and other invertebrates found in leaf litter and soil. It forages actively at night using its keen sense of smell, consuming small prey to meet its high metabolic needs.
Behavior
This shrew is solitary and territorial, marking its range with scent glands to avoid encounters with others. It is primarily nocturnal, spending days in underground burrows and emerging at night to forage actively. Despite its small size, it exhibits aggressive defense behaviors when threatened.
Conservation Status
IUCN status is Endangered due to habitat loss from deforestation and agriculture in the Western Ghats. Population trends indicate a continuing decline with fragmentation of remaining habitats.