It has been listed as Least Concern by IUCN as it remains common and displays some adaptability to ongoing habitat loss.

The paws are bare with sharp nails, and with a naked patch of skin above its long nose.

Common treeshrews occur south of about 10°N latitude in southern Thailand through mainland Malaysia and adjacent coastal islands to Singapore.

[1] In Indonesia, they are found on the islands of Siberut, Batu, Sumatra, Java, Bangka, Riau, Lingga and Anambas.

They have also been recorded from secondary forest, plantations, fruit orchards, and trees near housing areas.

[4] Common treeshrews are probably present throughout the lowlands and hills up to 1,100 m (3,600 ft) in the Kelabit Highlands of Borneo.

The subspecies T. g. longipes occurs in the north of Borneo, in Sarawak, and in East Kalimantan, including Sabah.

[5] Common treeshrews are active during the day, and forage for food alone or in pairs, mainly on the ground, among shrubs and tree holes.

[8] In tropical rainforest habitats in West Malaysia, population density varies from two to five animals per hectare.

[9] The species was first described in February 1820 by the French explorers Pierre-Médard Diard and Alfred Duvaucel in their jointly written article "Sur une nouvelle espèce de Sorex — Sorex Glis", which is preceded by an illustration.

The species still retains many forms of uncertain rank and validity, and is pending a detailed study.

Synonyms include:[3] Common treeshrews are threatened due to deforestation and ensuing human activities in agriculture (for example, using trenchers to dig ditches), plantations, and commercial logging.

[3] Tupaia glis is used by researchers as animal models for human diseases because of their close relationship to primates, and their well-developed senses of vision and hearing.