Do elephant shrews have fur?

In general, these shrews have short, stiff, and glossy fur similar to rodents like mice, and their coloring often depends on the species. They can sport black, grey, brown, white, tan, or golden fur, and certain species have a checkered coat with multiple colors.

How does the elephant shrew protect itself?

Elephant shrews use scent glands under the tail to mark their trails and point out toward direction of food. They aggressively defend their territory against other elephant shrews (both males and females scream and fight with intruders).

Do elephant shrews have trunks?

Elephant shrew noses, as on this Rhynchocyon petersi, aren’t true trunks but wiggle well.

What is a distinguishing feature of the elephant shrew?

elephant shrew, (order Macroscelidea), also called sengi, any of approximately 20 species of rat-sized African mammals named for their long, tapered, and flexible snout (proboscis). All have slim bodies, slender limbs, and very long hind legs and feet.

Where do you find elephant shrews?

Short-eared elephant shrews live in southern Africa in Namibia, Botswana and South Africa. They prefer a habitat where they can burrow into sandy soil, including arid semi-desert, dry grass and shrub land. They can occupy a home range of up to 240 acres (97.12 hectares).

What is order Macroscelidea?

Macroscelidea
Therapsid
Elephant shrew/Order

Why is it called an elephant shrew?

Elephant shrews (also called sengis) are represented by a single family, the Macroscelididae, including four genera and 19 living species. They take their name from their long pointed head and very long, mobile, trunk-like nose. They have rather long, legs for their size, which move in a hopping fashion like rabbits.

Are elephant shrews marsupials?

Elephant shrews, also called jumping shrews or sengis, are small insectivorous mammals native to Africa, belonging to the family Macroscelididae, in the order Macroscelidea.