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Cryptotis
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{{Short description|Genus of mammals}} {{Automatic taxobox | name = Small-eared shrews<ref name=msw3>{{MSW3 Soricomorpha | id = 13700362 | pages = 270-274 | heading = Genus ''Cryptotis''}}</ref> | fossil_range = Late [[Miocene]] to Recent | image = Shrew1opt.jpg | image_caption = [[North American least shrew]] (''Cryptotis parva'') | display_parents = 2 | taxon = Cryptotis | authority = [[Auguste Pomel|Pomel]], 1848 | type_species = ''[[Cryptotis parva|Sorex cinereus]]'' <ref>{{MSW3|id=13700362}}</ref> | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision = See text }} The [[genus]] '''''Cryptotis''''' is a group of relatively small [[Shrew (animal)|shrew]]s with short ears, which are usually not visible, and short tails, commonly called '''small-eared shrews'''. They have 30 teeth and are members of the [[red-toothed shrew]] subfamily. Since 1992, Neal Woodman (in cooperation with Robert Timm) at the United States National Museum has been in the process of revising the genus. To date, this has resulted in an increase in the number of species from 12 to 30. Members of the genus are found mainly in [[Central America]]; the [[North American least shrew]], ''C. parva'', is the only species found north of [[Mexico]]. The genus occurs as far south as northern [[Peru]] and as far east as western [[Venezuela]] in [[South America]]. It is the only soricomorph genus found south of [[Guatemala]]. The [[List of mammals of South America#Order: Eulipotyphla (shrews, hedgehogs, moles, and solenodons)|limited diversity]] and restricted northern distribution of shrews in South America implies that the group entered the continent relatively recently from [[Central America]], where they are [[List of mammals of Central America#Order: Soricomorpha (shrews, moles, and solenodons)|more diverse]], presumably as part of the [[Great American Interchange]]. However, shrews have no fossil record in South America that would allow their arrival to be dated.
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