Black & Rufous Elephant Shrew (Rhynchocyon petersi)

Scale illustration of an average Black & Rufous Elephant Shrew compared to other African Insectivore species

The dense forest of East Africa and lowlands montane are the best places to see the Black & Rufous Elephant Shrew (Rhynchocyon petersi). It is multi-colored, with the front half reddish-brown and the back half black. Its hind limbs are longer than its forelimbs, making it agile. On its head is a long proboscis and long tongue for scooping bugs. The Black & Rufous elephant shrew is solitary, forming monogamous pairs during mating or defending territories. Other communities call it the Zanj elephant shrew or black and rufous sengi.

The Black & Rufous Elephant Shrew has a body length in the range of 9.1”-11.8” (23-30 cm ) and total weight of 1-1.54 lb (450-700 g). The Black & Rufous Elephant Shrew has a rough standing height between 5.7”-7.5” (14.5-19 cm), body width of 3.3”-4.5” (8.5-11.5 cm), and tail length of 9.1”-9.8” (23-25 cm). The typical lifespan of the Black & Rufous Elephant Shrew is between 4-5 years.

Series of measured illustrations of the Black & Rufous Elephant Shrew

What is unique about shrews?

Most shrews have poor vision because they have small eyes that are sometimes covered by skin. But their sense of hearing and smell is excellent. Even so, the unique thing about them (or in certain species) is that they can echolocate. This is a technique they use to locate food other than determining or interpreting what is happening in their surroundings.

Are moles blind?

No, but their vision isn’t good because they are colorblind and nearsighted. Even so, these small eyes are very good at detecting light. Moles also have good smelling abilities and possess ears that are nearly invincible. These features make them well suited to the environment they live in.

Is a tenrec a good pet?

We can find the tenrec in Madagascar. It resembles a hedgehog because of its size, quills, and excellent climbing skills, but is more related to elephants and aardvarks. This petite size and physical profile may make you think of them as good pets. However, they are not that friendly and they can bite hard if manhandled.

What is unique about shrews?

Are moles blind?

Is a tenrec a good pet?

When did mammals first appear?

Mammals first appeared during the Triassic period which was about 252 million to 201 million years ago and were members of the reptilian order Therapsida. This order had a subclass, Synapsida which are sometimes referred to as mammal-like reptiles. They were part of the Carboniferous period and are considered one of the earliest reptilian groups.

Which mammal species lay eggs?

The only 2 mammal species that lay eggs are the duck-billed platypus and the echidna, also known as the spiny anteater. The reasons these 2 mammals still lay eggs may be due to their distant ancestors as well as other primitive traits like their reptile-like shoulders.

What are the most common mammal species?

The most common mammal species are humans as it is the most numerous species of mammal on Earth. As of 2022, the human population reached 7.9 billion. Human beings are the only species that are close to exceeding the number of members of the brown rat and the house mouse.

When did mammals first appear?

Which mammal species lay eggs?

What are the most common mammal species?

How do forest animals adapt to the changing seasons?

Forest animals adapt to the changing seasons to be able to withstand the cold winters and hot summer temperatures. Forest animals adapt by either hibernating or migrating to warmer weather during the cold. During the warm summer seasons, forest animals typically find an abundance of food and find ways to stay cool.

How do animals help trees?

Animals help trees because they breathe oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide while plants take in carbon dioxide and emit oxygen back into their surrounding air. Plants also serve as food and shelter for animals. Plants rely on animals for seed dispersal and pollination. Plants also help with filtering water that animals drink.

How do forest fires affect animals?

Forest fires affect animals as they alter the 3 sources that animals rely on the most – food, water, and shelter. Forest fires often cause animals to move away from the areas they are used to in search of a new shelter. Forest fires also cause deaths among animals through smoke inhalation or fire-caused injuries.

How do forest animals adapt to the changing seasons?

How do animals help trees?

How do forest fires affect animals?

Details

Under Development

Height:

5.7”-7.5” | 14.5-19 cm

Width:

3.3”-4.5” | 8.5-11.5 cm

Depth:

Length:

9.1”-11.8” | 23-30 cm (Body)

Weight:

1-1.54 lb | 450-700 g

Area:

Tail Length: 9.1”-9.8” | 23-25 cm

Scientific Name:

Rhynchocyon petersi

Lifespan:

4-5 years

Properties

Drawings include: 
Black & Rufous Elephant Shrew side view, front

Links

Wikipedia - Black & Rufous Elephant Shrew

Wikipedia - Afroinsectiphilia

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