Everything about Macroscelididae totally explained
Elephant shrews or
jumping shrews are small
insectivorous mammals native to
Africa, belonging to the
Macroscelididae family, in the
order Macroscelidea. Their traditional common English name comes from a fancied resemblance between their long noses and the trunk of an
elephant, and an assumed relationship with the true
shrews (family Soricidae) in the order
Insectivora. As it has become plain that the elephant shrews are unrelated to the shrews, some people prefer to call them
sengis, a term derived from the
Bantu languages of Africa.
They are widely distributed across the southern part of Africa, and although common nowhere, can be found in almost any type of habitat, from the
Namib Desert to boulder-strewn outcrops in South Africa to thick forest. One species, the
North African Elephant Shrew, remains in the semi-arid, mountainous country in the far north-west of the continent.
Characteristics
Elephant shrews vary in size from about 100 mm to almost 300 mm, from just under 50 g to over 500 g. The
Short-eared Elephant Shrew has an average size of . All are quadrupedal with mouse-like tails, and rather long legs for their size, and although the size of the trunk varies from one species to another, all are able to twist it about in search of food. Their life span is about two or three years. Their diet is largely insects and other small creatures, particularly beetles, spiders, worms, ants, and termites, mostly gleaned from leaf litter, but they also take seeds and some green shoots. They have large canine teeth, and also high-crowned
cheek teeth like those of
ungulates. Their
dental formula is:
Although mostly diurnal and very active, they're difficult to trap and very seldom seen: elephant shrews are wary, well camouflaged, and adept at dashing away from threats. Several species make a series of cleared pathways through the undergrowth and spend their day patrolling them for insect life: if disturbed, the pathway provides an obstacle-free escape route.
Elephant shrews are not highly social animals, but many live in mongamous pairs, which share and defend a home territory, which they mark using
scent glands.
There are 16 species of elephant shrew in four
genera, two of which are
monotypic.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Macroscelididae'.
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