Ba zan iya samun wata kalma a cikin ƙamus na yaren Ingilishi mai ainihin ma'anar "Caenolestes ba." Duk da haka, "Caenolestidae" iyali ne na ƙanana, ƙwararrun marsupials 'yan asalin yankin Andean na Kudancin Amirka. An fi sanin su da shrew opossums. Ana iya samun kalmar “Caenolestes” daga kalmomin Helenanci “kainos” ma’ana sababbi ko na baya-bayan nan, da kuma “leistes” ma’ana ɗan fashi ko ɗan fashi, wanda zai iya kwatanta halin ciyar da dabbar.