Elephant shrews were thought to be extinct. Recently, scientists spotted them alive in Djibouti, Africa. This was the first sighting in over 50 years.
Elephant shrews are named for their long, trunk-like nose. They resemble rabbits in how they move. Elephant shrews do not make good pets. They are shy, mate for life, and many states ban owning them.
Elephant shrews eat insects. They live throughout Africa except the west and Sahara. The last scientific record was in the 1970s despite local sightings.
They run fast, up to 28 km/h. For protection, they rely on vocalizations and scent markings. Their noses help them hunt insects. The Asian house shrew is the largest at 15 cm long. The Etruscan shrew is the smallest mammal at 1.8 g.
Most live in forests and burrows. A few make nests on the forest floor where they sleep. Elephant shrews are related to elephants, manatees and aardvarks despite their name. They can run nearly 30 km/h with their distinct nose to find insects.
One species lives in Somalia. It was unseen since the 1970s and thought extinct. Scientists checked Djibouti after reports of sightings. They aim to protect this rediscovered species.
Are elephant shrews venomous?
Elephant shrews are not venomous or poisonous. Their bites do not harm humans. True shrew bites can be painful and cause infections.
Elephant shrew sizes range from 10-30 cm long and 50-500 g in weight. The short-eared species is 150 mm long. Their long, movable noses resemble elephant trunks, hence the name. Smaller species live in southern, eastern, and northwestern Africa in dry forests, scrub, savannas and open country.
Elephant shrews use scent glands and sounds to mark territories. Both males and females defend territories aggressively. Their long noses constantly sense the environment. Elephant shrews face snakes, lizards and birds of prey as predators.
There are 20 species across Africa, including 4 genera and 19 living species. They live in mountains, deserts and forests, with lifespans around 2 years. Their insectivore diets are supplemented by berries and plants. Despite the name, they are more closely related to elephants, manatees and aardvarks than to shrews.
When confronted, elephant shrews bang the ground with legs and tail to scare predators. An estimated 15,000-24,000 gray-faced sengi exist, listed as vulnerable. Shrew bites may cause pain and swelling but are not dangerous to humans.
Elephant shrews resemble shrews but are unrelated. Their long noses gave rise to the name elephant shrew. They are shy, solitary foragers and proficient jumpers. Different species vary in size, color and habitat. Smaller species have shorter legs and live in drier areas. Larger giant elephant shrews inhabit forests.
Can you have an elephant shrew as a pet?
Elephant shrews do not make good pets. They are shy, mate for life, and some states don’t allow wild animals as pets. It takes generations to domesticate a species. Elephant shrews have very specific needs a standard cage can’t meet.
There are 17 living species of elephant shrews. The short-eared elephant shrew is the smallest. Elephant shrews have a long, flexible, highly sensitive snout. Their name comes from their snouts. They have long, slender legs and are mainly active during the day.
Elephant shrews are more closely related to elephants than to true shrews. An estimated 15,000 to 24,000 gray-faced sengi exist in the wild. The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists them as vulnerable.
In general, shrews do not cause property damage even though they dig holes. The checkered elephant shrew is in Central Africa. The golden-rumped elephant shrew is endemic to Kenya. The grey-faced shrew is confined to Tanzania, Africa.
Elephant shrews have fuzzy fur that can be white, yellowish-brown, grey, brown or black. They have an elongated, pointed head, very long, trunk-like nose, large ears and eyes, long hind legs and long, scaly tail.
Shrews are small, mouse-like animals with high energy levels. They can be difficult to spot and may cause damage if they invade homes. Shrews do not make good pets. They are short-lived, most active at night, with sharp teeth.
The creature is one of the fastest small mammals, having been recorded to reach speeds of 28.8 kilometres per hour. Despite their cute appearance, elephant shrews are wild animals that can only survive in Africa or carefully controlled environments like zoos. Besides this, they are an endangered species, and this makes them unsuitable and illegal to have as pets.
Do elephant shrews mate for life?
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The fact that elephant shrews are shy and mate for life indicate they would make boring pets. Some states don’t allow wild animals as pets. Elephant shrews have not been domesticated. They are fast runners, mark territory with scent glands, and prefer living in monogamous pairs. Elephant shrews do not menstruate cyclically but only at the end of breeding season. They do not make good pets. Habitat fragmentation threatens elephant shrew populations. It limits resources and finding mates. They have long snouts, large eyes and ears, complete auditory bullae, and elongated upper canines. Skeletons have hind limbs longer than forelimbs. They are solitary, using vocalizations and scent for communication. Gestation is 45 to 60 days. Females typically birth one or two babies. Insectivorous, they eat insects like ants and termites. Lifespan is four years maximum. They mate for life, fiercely defending territory. Small mammals, recorded at speeds up to 28.8 kilometres per hour. Compared to other insectivores, relatively large brains. Main threats are habitat fragmentation, decreasing potential mates. Prominent ears, long pointed head, long legs for hopping. Terrestrial and diurnal, eating insects with long tongue. Mating stages last days, gestating six to eight weeks. Two or three young born, maturing quickly. Multiple litters per year.