Round-eared Elephant Shrew

Macroscelides proboscideus

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Mammalia · Macroscelidea · Macroscelididae

About

The round-eared elephant shrew or round-eared sengi, 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, and grassland, and hot deserts. They eat insects, shoots, and roots. Their gestation period is 56 days.

Fun Fact

Despite their mouse-like size, round-eared elephant shrews are more closely related to elephants than to shrews — molecular evidence places them in the ancient African superorder Afrotheria alongside elephants and aardvarks.

Quick Facts

Habitat

Karoo scrublands

Diet

Insectivore

Lifespan

3-4 years

Threats

Urban Expansion
Invasive Species

External Data Sources

Recent sightings on iNaturalist IUCN Red List profile

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