From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Species in mammal order Macroscelidea
Black and rufous elephant shrew (Rhynchocyon petersi )
Macroscelidea is an
order of small
mammals . Members of this order are called macroscelids, or elephant shrews. They are exclusively found in Africa, in a variety of
biomes from forests to deserts. They range in size from the
Etendeka round-eared sengi , at 8 cm (3 in) plus a 8 cm (3 in) tail, to the
grey-faced sengi , at 32 cm (13 in) plus a 26 cm (10 in) tail, and generally eat insects, other
invertebrates , and plants. The only macroscelid species with an
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) population estimate is the
golden-rumped elephant shrew , listed as
endangered with a population of around 13,000.
The nineteen
extant species of Macroscelidea are grouped into a single
family , Macroscelididae, and are split between six
genera . Dozens of extinct macroscelid species have been discovered, though due to ongoing research and discoveries the exact number and categorization is not fixed.
[1]
Conventions
Conservation status codes listed follow the IUCN
Red List of Threatened Species . Range maps are provided wherever possible; if a range map is not available, a description of the macroscelid's range is provided. Ranges are based on the IUCN Red List for that species unless otherwise noted. All extinct species or subspecies listed alongside extant species went extinct after 1500 CE, and are indicated by a
dagger symbol "†".
Classification
The
order
Macroscelidea consists of a single
family , Macroscelididae, which contains twenty species divided into six genera. Many of these species are further subdivided into subspecies. This does not include
hybrid species or extinct prehistoric species.
[2]
Macroscelids
The following classification is based on the taxonomy described by
Mammal Species of the World (2005), with augmentation by generally accepted proposals made since using
molecular phylogenetic analysis .
[3]
Genus
Elephantulus –
Thomas , 1906 – eight species
Common name
Scientific name and subspecies
Range
Size and ecology
IUCN status and estimated population
Bushveld elephant shrew
E. intufi (
Smith , 1836)
Southern Africa
Size : 20–28 cm (8–11 in) long, plus 9–15 cm (4–6 in) tail
[4] Habitat :
Savanna , shrubland, and grassland
[5] Diet : Ants, termites, and other small invertebrates, as well as plants
[4]
LC
Unknown
[5]
Cape elephant shrew
E. edwardii (
Smith , 1839)
Southern
South Africa
Size : 10–13 cm (4–5 in) long, plus 11–15 cm (4–6 in) tail
[6] Habitat : Shrubland and rocky areas
[7] Diet : Ants and termites, as well as other invertebrates
[6]
LC
Unknown
[7]
Dusky elephant shrew
E. fuscus (
Peters , 1852)
Southern Africa
Size : 10–13 cm (4–5 in) long, plus 8–12 cm (3–5 in) tail
[8] Habitat : Savanna and shrubland
[9] Diet : Believed to be invertebrates
[10]
DD
Unknown
[9]
Dusky-footed elephant shrew
E. fuscipes (
Thomas , 1894)
Central Africa
Size : 12–15 cm (5–6 in) long, plus 8–10 cm (3–4 in) tail
[11] Habitat : SavannaDiet : Believed to be invertebrates
[10]
DD
Unknown
Eastern rock elephant shrew
E. myurus
Thomas ,
Schwann , 1906
Southern Africa
Size : 20–29 cm (8–11 in) long, plus 20–29 cm (8–11 in) tail
[13] Habitat : Savanna, grassland, and rocky areas
[14] Diet : Ants, termites, and other invertebrates, as well as plants
[13]
LC
Unknown
[14]
Karoo rock elephant shrew
E. pilicaudus
Smit ,
Robinson ,
Watson ,
van Vuuren , 2008
Western South Africa
Size : 11–12 cm (4–5 in) long, plus 11–15 cm (4–6 in) tail
[15] Habitat : Shrubland and rocky areas
[16] Diet : Invertebrates
[15]
DD
Unknown
[16]
Short-snouted elephant shrew
E. brachyrhynchus (
Smith , 1836)
Southern and southeastern Africa
Size : 11–13 cm (4–5 in) long, plus 8–11 cm (3–4 in) tail
[17] Habitat : Savanna and grassland
[18] Diet : Ants and termites, as well as small amounts of plants, fruit, and seeds
[19]
LC
Unknown
[18]
Western rock elephant shrew
E. rupestris (
Smith , 1831)
Southern Africa
Size : 11–13 cm (4–5 in) long, plus 12–17 cm (5–7 in) tail
[20] Habitat : Savanna, shrubland, and rocky areas
[21] Diet : Invertebrates
[20]
LC
Unknown
[21]
Genus
Galegeeska –
Heritage ,
Rayaleh , 2020 – two species
Common name
Scientific name and subspecies
Range
Size and ecology
IUCN status and estimated population
Somali elephant shrew
G. revoili (
Huet , 1881)
Horn of Africa
Size : 12–15 cm (5–6 in) long, plus 12–16 cm (5–6 in) tail
[22] Habitat : Savanna and shrubland
[23] Diet : Invertebrates as well as plants
[22]
DD
Unknown
[23]
Rufous elephant shrew
G. rufescens (
Peters , 1878)
G. r. boranus
G. r. dundasi
G. r. peasei
G. r. pulcher
G. r. rufescens
G. r. somalicus
Eastern Africa
Size : 10–20 cm (4–8 in) long, plus 11–17 cm (4–7 in) tail
[24] Habitat : Savanna and grassland
[25] Diet : Termites and ants, as well as shoots, berries and roots
[26]
LC
Unknown
[25]
Genus
Macroscelides –
Smith , 1829 – three species
Common name
Scientific name and subspecies
Range
Size and ecology
IUCN status and estimated population
Etendeka round-eared sengi
M. micus
Dumbacher ,
Rathbun , 2014
Northwestern
Namibia
Size : 8–10 cm (3–4 in) long, plus 8–10 cm (3–4 in) tail
[27] Habitat : Shrubland, grassland, and desert
[28] Diet : Invertebrates
[29]
LC
Unknown
[28]
Namib round-eared sengi
M. flavicaudatus
Lundholm , 1955
Namibia
Size : 10–12 cm (4–5 in) long, plus 9–14 cm (4–6 in) tail
[27]
[30] Habitat : Shrubland and desert
[31] Diet : Omnivorous, primarily invertebrates
[30]
LC
Unknown
[31]
Round-eared elephant shrew
M. proboscideus (
Shaw , 1800)
Southern Africa
Size : 10–11 cm (4–4 in) long, plus 9–13 cm (4–5 in) tail
[32] Habitat : Shrubland and desert
[33] Diet : Termites, ants, and other small invertebrates, as well as plants
[32]
LC
Unknown
[33]
Genus
Petrodromus –
Peters , 1846 – one species
Common name
Scientific name and subspecies
Range
Size and ecology
IUCN status and estimated population
Four-toed elephant shrew
P. tetradactylus
Peters , 1846
P. t. beirae
P. t. rovumae
P. t. schwanni
P. t. sultani
P. t. swynnertoni
P. t. tetradactylus
P. t. tordayi
P. t. warreni
P. t. zanzibaricus
Central and southeastern Africa
Size : 19–23 cm (7–9 in) long, plus 15–17 cm (6–7 in) tail
[34] Habitat : Forest, savanna, and shrubland
[35] Diet : Termites, ants, and other small invertebrates, as well as plants
[34]
LC
Unknown
[35]
Genus
Petrosaltator –
Rathbun ,
Dumbacher , 2016 – one species
Common name
Scientific name and subspecies
Range
Size and ecology
IUCN status and estimated population
North African elephant shrew
P. rozeti (
Duvernoy , 1833)
P. r. deserti
P. r. rozeti
Northwestern Africa
Size : 11–13 cm (4–5 in) long, plus 13–16 cm (5–6 in) tail
[36] Habitat : Shrubland, rocky areas, and desert
[37] Diet : Believed to be ants, termites, and other invertebrates, as well as plants
[36]
LC
Unknown
[37]
Genus
Rhynchocyon –
Peters , 1847 – four species
Common name
Scientific name and subspecies
Range
Size and ecology
IUCN status and estimated population
Black and rufous elephant shrew
R. petersi
Bocage , 1880
R. p. adersi
R. p. petersi
Eastern Africa
Size : 25–31 cm (10–12 in) long, plus 25 cm (10 in) tail
[38] Habitat : Forest and shrubland
[39] Diet : Omnivorous; primarily ants, termites, and other invertebrates
[38]
LC
Unknown
[39]
Checkered elephant shrew
R. cirnei
Peters , 1847
R. c. cirnei
R. c. hendersoni
R. c. macrurus
R. c. reichardi
R. c. shirensis
R. c. stuhlmanni
Central and southeastern Africa
Size : 22–31 cm (9–12 in) long, plus 17–26 cm (7–10 in) tail
[40] Habitat : Forest and shrubland
[41] Diet : Invertebrates, as well as small mammals, amphibians, mollusks, birds, and bird eggs
[40]
LC
Unknown
[41]
Golden-rumped elephant shrew
R. chrysopygus
Günther , 1881
Eastern
Kenya
Size : 21–31 cm (8–12 in) long, plus 21–27 cm (8–11 in) tail
[42] Habitat : Forest and shrubland
[43] Diet : Wide variety of invertebrates
[44]
EN
13,000
[43]
Grey-faced sengi
R. udzungwensis
Rovero ,
Rathbun , 2008
Central Tanzania
Size : 29–32 cm (11–13 in) long, plus 23–26 cm (9–10 in) tail
[45] Habitat : Forest
[46] Diet : Unknown
[45]
VU
Unknown
[46]
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