CR

Sorex sclateri

Declining

Overview

Sclater's shrew is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is endemic to Mexico.

Sorex sclateri faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion and urban development within its extremely limited range in central Mexico. The species' restriction to high-altitude pine-oak forests makes it particularly vulnerable to climate change, as warming temperatures force suitable habitat upslope with nowhere left to retreat. Mining activities and logging operations further fragment the remaining forest patches, while the species' small population size increases extinction risk from stochastic events.

Threat summary

Habitat

Sorex sclateri inhabits high-altitude pine-oak forests in the mountains of central Mexico, typically found at elevations between 2,400-3,000 meters. The species requires dense forest understory with abundant leaf litter and fallen logs that provide shelter and foraging opportunities for invertebrate prey.

Forest· majorForest - Subtropical/tropical moist montane· major

Other threatened species in SORICIDAE

Eisentraut's ShrewVU

Eisentraut's Shrew

Crocidura eisentrauti

Stable
Macow's ShrewEN

Macow's Shrew

Crocidura macowi

Unknown
VU

Phu Quoc White-toothed Shrew

Crocidura phuquocensis

Unknown
CR

Nelson's Small Eared Shrew

Cryptotis nelsoni

Stable

Threatened in Guatemala

EN

Arachnothryx tacanensis

Declining
EN

Baird's Tapir

Tapirus bairdii

Declining
Conant's Mushroomtongue SalamanderVU

Conant's Mushroomtongue Salamander

Bolitoglossa conanti

Declining
VU

Phrygiopilus acanthophallus

Stable

Frequently asked questions

Why is Sorex sclateri classified as Critically Endangered?
Sorex sclateri is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Sorex sclateri faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion and urban development within its extremely limited range in central Mexico. The species' restriction to high-altitude pine-oak forests makes it particularly vulnerable to climate change, as warming temperatures force suitable habitat upslope with nowhere left to retreat. Mining activities and logging operations further fragment the remaining forest patches, while the species' small population size increases extinction risk from stochastic events.
Where does Sorex sclateri live?
Sorex sclateri occurs in Guatemala, Mexico, and United States. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Sorex sclateri?
The main threats to Sorex sclateri are 2.1, 5.3, ai-1, and ai-2. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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