Order Macroscelidea Genus Elephantulus Higher classification Elephantulus | Phylum Chordata Family Macroscelididae Scientific name Elephantulus rufescens Rank Species | |
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Similar Elephant shrew, Elephantulus, Rhynchocyon, Mammal, Golden‑rumped elephant shrew | ||
Cute yawning black rufous elephant shrew
The rufous elephant shrew, rufous sengi or East African long-eared elephant-shrew (Elephantulus rufescens) is a species of elephant shrew in the family Macroscelididae. Found in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda, its natural habitats are dry savanna and subtropical or tropical dry shrubland.
Contents
- Cute yawning black rufous elephant shrew
- Black and rufous elephant shrew top 5 facts
- Distribution
- Characteristics
- Ecology diet and behavior
- References
Black and rufous elephant shrew top 5 facts
Distribution
Elephantulus rufescens occupies the drywood land and grassland zone of East Africa.
Characteristics
E. rufescens exhibits no sexual dimorphism. The probosis is long and flexible. The species' tails are dark-brown and can be long up to the its head-to-tail length. Females have three pair of teats and the males have internal testes. Both adults and juveniles are similar in color. However, adults have white feet while juveniles' feet are brown.
Ecology, diet, and behavior
Rufous elephant shrews are active throughout the day, with peaks in activity at dusk and dawn while having a midday rest. The males usually spend most of their time cleaning the foraging trails. Except for foraging, all activities are performed in these trails. Trails act as an important means for escaping from predators. Insects form the major food resource of their diet in the dry season, while seeds are consumed during periods of rain.
This species is fairly monogamous; however, members of a monogamous pair spend little time together and are limited in social interaction. They live in a matriarchal society in which the female of the pair usually dominates the male.
