Macroscelides proboscideus

For the former subspecies M. p. flavicaudatus, see Macroscelides flavicaudatus.
Macroscelides proboscideus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Macroscelidea
Family: Macroscelididae
Genus: Macroscelides
Species: M. proboscideus
Binomial name
Macroscelides proboscideus
(Shaw, 1800)
Geographic range

The round-eared elephant shrew (Macroscelides proboscideus) or round-eared sengi (called the Karoo round-eared elephant shrew to distinguish it from its sister species;[2] formerly misleadingly named the "short-eared elephant shrew"),[3] is a species of elephant shrew (sengi) in the family Macroscelididae. It is found in Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland, and hot deserts.[1] They eat insects, shoots, and roots. Their gestation period is 56 days.[4]

Elephant shrews are among only a handful of monogamous mammals, making them a model group for the study of monogamy. They have been studied for their mate guarding behavior.[5]

Round-eared elephant shrew, as described by Robert Jacob Gordon in 1779 or 1780.
Round-eared elephant shrew (Macroscelides proboscideus), as described by Robert Jacob Gordon in 1779-1780.

References

  1. 1 2 Stuart, C.; Perrin, M.; FitzGibbon, C.; Griffin, M. & Smit, H. (2008). "Macroscelides proboscideus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2008. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 29 December 2008.
  2. ↑ Dumbacher, J. P.; Rathbun, G. B.; Smit, H. A.; Eiseb, S. J. (2012). Steinke, Dirk, ed. "Phylogeny and Taxonomy of the Round-Eared Sengis or Elephant-Shrews, Genus Macroscelides (Mammalia, Afrotheria, Macroscelidea)". PLoS ONE. 7 (3): e32410. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0032410. PMC 3314003Freely accessible. PMID 22479325.
  3. ↑ Rathbun, G. H. (2005). "Order Macroscelidea". In Skinner, J. D.; Chimimba, C. T. The Mammals of the Southern African Sub-region. Cambridge University Press. p. 26. ISBN 978-0521844185.
  4. ↑ California Academy of Sciences. Elephant-shrews or Sengis: Macroscelidea. http://research.calacademy.org/research/bmammals/eshrews/index.html
  5. ↑ Bernard, R. T. F., G. I. H. Kerley, T. Doubell and A. Davison 1996. Reproduction in the round-eared elephant shrew (Macroscelides proboscideus) in the southern Karoo, South Africa. Journal of Zoology, London, 240 233-243.
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