New Shrew Creature Enters Book of Life
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Zoologists have identified a shrew-like creature — the grey-faced sengi — in a rare discovery of a new species of mammal living in a small community in remote Tanzania. Sengis — also called elephant-shrews — are small, furry, insect eating mammals that live on forest floors.
Photo AFP / California Academy of Sciences / Francesco Rovero
Only 15 species of sengis had been identified up to now. This exceptional newcomer — dubbed Rhynchocyon udzungwensis from the region in where it was found — weighs substantially more than the typical sengi at a rocking 1.5 pounds (700 grams) — about 25% larger than any other known sengi.
The creature was found living in a small community in the high-altitude Ndundulu forest in Tanzania’s Udzungwa Mountains, an isolated area of great biodiversity.
The discovery of the animal was made by scientists Galen Rathbun of the California Academy of Sciences and Francesco Rovero of the Museum of Natural Sciences in Trento, Italy.
Scientist Galen Rathbun holding a rare grey-faced sengi. Photo AFP / California Academy of Sciences / David Ribble
“This is one of the most exciting discoveries of my career.” said Rathbun, a 30 year veteran of sengi watching.
“It is the first new species of giant elephant-shrew to be discovered in more than 126 years. From the moment I first lifted one of the animals into our photography tent, I knew it must be a new species — not just because of its distinct coloring, but because it was so heavy!”
The Rhynchocyon udzungwensis has “a distinctive grey face and a jet-black lower rump.” cites the California Academy of Sciences.
Only 2 populations of the new species are currently known to exist, over an area of about 115 square miles (300 square kilometers) of forest.
Photo:Francesco Rovero/AFP
The creature was first caught on film in 2005 when Rovero set up a camera trap by in the Ndundulu forest in Tanzania’s Udzungwa Mountains, and captured and observed directly the next year.
Rovero and Rathbun returned there in March 2006 for a 2 week expedition in which they captured 4 animals using traditional twine snares, and made 40 observations. They found that the animal was larger than they had expected, and that the traps they had brought would not contain it — instead they had to use the twine snares
Elephant-shrews
Elephant-shrews or jumping shrews are monogamous animals native only to Africa. They owe their name to early scientists who thought they were shrews and gave them the elephant name due to their resemblance with their long, flexible snouts.
Photo Olaf Leillinger
Ironically, recent molecular tests showed that they are more closely related to elephants than to shrews, being members of a mammal group called Afrotheria, which evolved in Africa more than 100 million years ago.
Since elephant shrews are unrelated to the shrews, some prefer to call them sengis, a term derived from the Bantu languages of Africa.
Elephant shrews vary in size from 4 inches (100 millimeters) to nearly 12 inches (300 millimeters), from just under 1.76 ounces (50 grams) to more than 17.6 ounces (500 grams). The Short-eared Elephant-shrew has an average size of 6 inches (150 millimeters).
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 2 or 3 years. Diet largely consists of insects and other small creatures, particularly beetles, spiders, worms, ants, and termites, but they also eat seeds and some green shoots. They have large canine teeth, as well as high-crowned cheek teeth.
Although mostly highly active during the day, 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, that share and defend a home territory. The Rhynchocyon species dig small conical holes in the soil, but others may use natural crevices, or make leaf nests.
Shrew Folklore
In China the musk shrew is known as the ‘money shrew’ because its chattering is thought to resemble the jingling of coins.
Newfoundland folklore has it that shrews are a voracious and stubborn species.
Stories have it that they will eat in a straight line, going through whatever is in front of them using the sharp teeth in their long snouts to cut into shoe leather, rubber tires, or whatever else is in their way.
There is a myth that shrews enter large animals such as cows, caribou and moose through their anuses and kill them from the inside out.
Sources: Yahoo News, Shrew Talk Archive and Wikipedia
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hmm, although it’s a rodent
i don’t find anything nice or cute about it like a hamster :O
Hamsters are definitely cute, Essay. I guess it’s all a matter of personal perspective … I thought his long snout made him to be quite interesting
Wow, those things are pretty weird looking. I am glad they live 1/2 way across the world. I definitely wouldn’t want to run into one of those. (I detest rodents)
PS, would you know if they actually have these in North American Zoos? I showed this blog post to my wife, and she had reminded me that we had seen something like this at our local zoo. After visiting the zoo, it’s hard to recall every single animal I’ve seen, so it could be possible that we’ve seen these creatures there, but not sure.
That would be highly unlikely that your wife saw this particular creature at any zoo, considering that they had only caught 4 of these creatures, Online. Perhaps she saw another form of a giant shrew, or something similar.
Ahhh, okay! that explains it. I guess too many to remember! thanks for confirming with me!
My pleasure, Online
One good thing about this animal is that if it bites you you will most probably not die
Great post.
I would like to have a pet animle like that