Cryptotis parvus

This species previously included C. berlandieri, C. pueblensis, C. soricinus, and C. floridanus (ASM 2025, Galfano et al. 2025, Woodman 2018). Galfano et al. (2025) recognize geographically discrete lineages as subspecies, C. p. parvus west of the Mississippi, and C. p. harlani east of the Mississippi. An additional subspecies, C. p. neomexicanus is recognized from New Mexico (Galfano et al. 2025). Following ASM (2025), the ending is changed from -a to -us through all of Cryptotis per ICZN (2006).

Formerly included, as subspecies, Central American Cryptotis orophilus and C. tropicalis, which were listed as distinct species by Hutterer (in Wilson and Reeder 2005).

This is a widespread species found in many suitable habitats. Threats are believed to be low, although some populations may be experiencing localized declines. The species has been lost from parts of its historical range, but has expanded its range westward in the central United States and Mexico.

This species occurs throughout much of eastern U.S. north (at least formerly) to extreme southeastern Canada (Hutterer, in Wilson and Reeder 1993), southern New York and southern Connecticut, southern Michigan (Evers 1992), South Dakota (Backlund 2002), Nebraska (Benedict et al. 2000, Geluso et al. 2004, Merlino et al. 2012) and eastern Wyoming (Marquardt et al. 2006); also south through Mexico and into the Central American countries of Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama (Hutterer, in Wilson and Reeder 2005, Barnes and Hoffman 2023). All samples of putative C. parvus from south of the Rio Grande along the U.S. Mexico border appear to represent C. berlandieri or other species of the C. parvus group (Galfano et al. 2025).

This species is widespread and known from a large number of occurrences (GBIF 2026, RARECAT 2025). The species is locally rare, although it may be sampled in high densities in certain habitats or conditions (Whitaker 1974).

Given the large geographic distribution of this species, it is unlikely that any major threat is impacting its global population. However, sub-populations are threatened by habitat loss and degradation due to development and agricultural practices such as intensive farming and pesticide application.