Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Order
- Eulipotyphla
- Family
- Soricidae
- Genus
- Crocidura
Habitat
This shrew primarily inhabits moist forests, savannas, and grasslands in West Africa, from Senegal to Nigeria. It prefers areas with dense undergrowth and proximity to water sources, such as streams or wetlands. They are often found in leaf litter or burrows in soil-rich environments.
Diet
The West African long-tailed shrew mainly eats insects, earthworms, and other small invertebrates like spiders and centipedes. It hunts actively using its keen sense of smell, feeding frequently throughout the day and night due to its high metabolic rate. They forage in leaf litter and under debris to capture prey.
Behavior
These shrews are solitary and territorial, defending small home ranges with scent markings. They are primarily nocturnal, emerging at night to forage and exhibiting high activity levels with quick, darting movements. They communicate through vocalizations and are known for their aggressive interactions with intruders.
Conservation Status
The IUCN Red List classifies the West African long-tailed shrew as Least Concern, with a stable population trend. Major threats include habitat destruction from deforestation and agricultural expansion.