The elephant shrew, also known by the preferred common name sengi, is a small African mammal. Despite its common name, this animal is not a true shrew but belongs to its own order, Macroscelidea. The name is derived from its most distinguishing feature: a long, flexible, trunk-like snout that gives it a miniature elephant-like appearance. These quick-moving creatures are found exclusively in Africa, inhabiting a variety of environments across the continent.
More Than Just a Shrew: Taxonomy and Distinctive Anatomy
The elephant shrew is placed in the order Macroscelidea, making it part of the superorder Afrotheria. This group of mammals originated in Africa and includes animals like manatees, aardvarks, and elephants. Scientists increasingly favor the name sengi, a term derived from Bantu languages, to avoid taxonomic confusion with true shrews.
Sengis possess specialized anatomical features that support their active lifestyle. Their most recognizable trait is the highly sensitive, mobile proboscis, which is used to forage and explore surroundings. Sengis also have relatively long, slender limbs; the hind legs are noticeably longer than the forelegs, resulting in a slightly hunched posture. Varying by species, size ranges from mouse-sized (around 28 grams) to much larger giant sengis, such as the grey-faced sengi, which can weigh up to 700 grams.
Remarkable Behavior and Specialized Diet
Sengis are cursorial, or adapted for running, using their long hind limbs for rapid, bounding locomotion. Some species can reach speeds of up to 28 kilometers per hour. When startled, they often engage in rapid, bipedal hopping to escape predators. This swift movement helps manage their naturally high metabolism, requiring them to forage almost constantly throughout the day.
To maintain their energy demands, sengis are primarily insectivorous, feeding on invertebrates like spiders, ants, termites, and worms. They use their flexible proboscis to locate prey and flick food directly into their mouths. Many species maintain elaborate, cleared path systems within their home territories. These paths serve as a familiar network for rapid, obstacle-free travel and quick escapes from danger.
Habitat and Conservation Status
Elephant shrews are endemic to Africa, with a distribution spanning from arid steppes and rocky outcrops to dense tropical forests. The continent’s diverse geography has led to an array of species, each adapted to its specific environment, from the short-eared sengi that thrives in the Namib Desert to the forest-dwelling giant sengis. While the group as a whole is stable, individual species face varying levels of threat.
Most elephant shrew species are currently listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. However, localized habitat destruction significantly impacts species with restricted ranges. For instance, the golden-rumped sengi is listed as Endangered. The grey-faced sengi, discovered recently in Tanzania, is listed as Vulnerable due to the limited size and fragmentation of its coastal forest habitat. Conservation efforts focus on protecting these threatened species from deforestation and agricultural expansion.