Elephant shrews, also known as sengis, are small mammals with a distinctive appearance. Despite their common name, they are not true shrews, nor are they related to elephants. They belong to their own unique order, Macroscelidea, and are more closely related to a group of African mammals that includes elephants, aardvarks, and manatees. They are recognized by a long, flexible snout, large eyes, and relatively long legs, which give them a somewhat rabbit-like hopping gait.
Geographic Distribution
All elephant shrew species are found exclusively on the African continent. Their widespread distribution is often fragmented, with different species inhabiting distinct locales. For instance, some species are found in Central Africa, others are endemic to countries like Kenya or Tanzania, and some are more broadly distributed across southern, eastern, and northwestern Africa. The North African elephant shrew, for example, resides in semi-arid, mountainous areas of the continent’s far northwest.
Varied Habitats
Elephant shrews demonstrate adaptability, thriving in diverse environments across Africa. Their habitat preferences are species-specific, reflecting the varied ecological niches they occupy. Some species, particularly the larger “giant elephant shrews” of the genus Rhynchocyon, prefer dense forests, closed-canopy woodlands, and thickets. These forest dwellers often seek areas with abundant leaf litter, which provides both cover and a rich source of food.
Other elephant shrew species are adapted to open landscapes, such as savannas and grasslands. Within these environments, they might inhabit areas with dense undergrowth or sparse shrubs, utilizing the vegetation for concealment and foraging. For example, the short-snouted elephant shrew is found in arid and semi-arid wooded bushlands and densely covered grasslands.
A few species survive in drier conditions, including arid or semi-arid regions and stone deserts. The short-eared elephant shrew, for instance, prefers sandy soils in arid semi-desert, dry grass, and shrubland. The Somali elephant shrew inhabits arid and semi-arid desert with rocky substrates and sparse shrubs. Species like the eastern and western rock elephant shrews are found in rocky areas, boulder-strewn outcrops, and mountain slopes.
Life Within Their Environment
Elephant shrews exhibit behaviors and traits that enable them to thrive in their environments. Their long, flexible snouts are primarily used for foraging, probing leaf litter, soil, or rocky crevices to locate insects, spiders, centipedes, millipedes, and earthworms. They use their long tongues to flick small prey into their mouths, similar to an anteater. Elephant shrews are mostly diurnal, spending up to 80% of their waking hours searching for food.
To navigate and escape predators, many species create and maintain a network of cleared pathways through dense undergrowth. These pathways serve as obstacle-free escape routes, allowing them to dash away quickly from threats like snakes and birds of prey. When disturbed, they are known for their speed, with some species reaching up to 29 kilometers per hour.
For shelter, elephant shrews utilize natural features or construct their own refuges. Some species build leaf nests on the forest floor, while others use existing burrows created by other animals. Others dig their own burrows or find refuge in rock crevices and under logs. Elephant shrews are generally solitary, though many species form monogamous pairs that share and defend a home territory, marking it with scent glands.