Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Order
- Eulipotyphla
- Family
- Soricidae
- Genus
- Notiosorex
Habitat
This species inhabits arid and semiarid regions, including desert scrublands and grasslands in northern Mexico. It prefers areas with loose soil for burrowing and is often found in rocky or vegetative cover to avoid predators.
Diet
Villa's gray shrew primarily eats insects such as beetles, ants, and spiders, along with other small invertebrates. It is a voracious feeder, hunting actively at night and consuming food equivalent to its body weight daily to maintain high metabolism.
Behavior
Villa's gray shrew is solitary and nocturnal, spending the day in burrows and emerging at night to forage. It exhibits territorial behavior, marking areas with scent and avoiding direct confrontation with others of its kind. This species is highly active and agile, using its keen sense of smell to locate prey.
Conservation Status
Villa's gray shrew is listed as Data Deficient by the IUCN due to limited data on its population status. Major threats include habitat loss from agriculture and urbanization in its range.