This species is found in old growth and scrubby secondary forest (Taylor 1934, Hoogstraal 1951, Heaney et al. 1998). It is likely to tolerate a good deal of habitat loss and is possibly resistant to habitat fragmentation (indicated by its occurrence at a site at Dumaran, which was logged decades ago and degraded).

The species is endemic to the Philippines, where it is found in the Palawan Faunal Region with records from Palawan and Balabac islands, at an elevation range from sea level to 1,300 m asl. Ten individuals of a Crocidura species caught on Dumaran and others caught in the Malampaya Sound are smaller than one would expect for C. palawanensis (P. Widmann pers. comm.); the identification of these specimens is currently underway (J. Esselstyn pers. comm.).

Given its relatively wide range, this species is likely to be present in a number of protected areas, and it is found in Subterranean River National Park. Populations of this species should be monitored to record changes in abundance and distribution, especially in relation to human alteration of its habitat. Further studies are needed on the distribution, abundance, natural history and threats to this species.