Elephant Shrew

Quick Take

• Despite looking like a rodent, the elephant shrew's closest living relatives will genuinely surprise you. Explore their surprising relatives →
• This tiny mammal shares a biological trait with human females that almost no other mammals on Earth do. Discover the shared trait →
• Elephant shrews can survive in one of the world's most extreme environments, though the reason why is not what you'd expect. See how they survive →
• These animals mate for life and are ready to reproduce at an age that will make you do a double take. Learn their mating habits →

Elephant shrews are small, furry mammals that resemble giant mice or gerbils. In spite of their name, they are not actually shrews, and despite their appearance, they are not rodents either. Elephant shrews are most closely related to elephants, aardvarks, tenrecs, and golden moles.

Elephant Shrew Facts

• Elephant shrews can jump three feet into the air, giving them the nickname ‘jumping shrew.’
• They are known to thrive in the Namib Desert, which is one of the driest places in the world.
• Elephant shrews are only found in Africa.
• Female elephant shrews menstruate similarly to human females.
• Elephant shrews can live up to four years and are ready to reproduce at six weeks old.

Evolution And Origin

The elephant shrew has been recognized as a distinct species since the 1950s, although they were originally thought to be related to insectivores and tree shrews, but it is now believed that they are more closely related to an ancient group that gave rise to elephants and aardvarks. While their history may be confined to Africa, it dates back 41.3 to 33.9 million years ago, during the late Eocene era.

Scientific Name

There are approximately 19 to 20 different species of these shrews, and they all belong to the family Macroscelididae. The name is derived from the Greek words “makros,” meaning “long,” and “skelidos,” meaning “legs.” All elephant shrews have very long and powerful legs relative to the small size of their bodies, so this is a fitting name.

Elephant shrews can belong to all of the following genera: 

• Elephantulus, meaning “elephant-like”
• Macroscelides, meaning “long legs”
• Petrodromus, meaning “rock runner,” from the Greek words “petra,” meaning “rock,” and “dromas,” meaning “to run”
• Petrosaltator, meaning “rock hopper,” from the Greek word “petra” and the Latin word “saltare,” meaning “to jump or hop”
• Rhynchocyon, meaning “dog snout,” is from the Greek words “rhyncho,” meaning “snout,” and “cyon,” meaning “dog”

Other common non-scientific names for this animal are “jumping shrew” and “sengi.” They are most commonly known as the elephant shrew due to their long snout.

Appearance and Behavior

These shrews are quite small and typically only grow to be four to twelve inches in length, not counting their tails. An elephant shrew’s tail can grow up to nine inches in length. The largest species of this shrew can weigh up to one and a half pounds, but most species weigh less than a pound. To put this in perspective, the average elephant shrew weighs about as much as a large can of soup.

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 checkered coats with multiple colors.

They have scaly tails, powerful hind legs, long feet, and long, thin snouts that are similar enough to an elephant’s trunk to give them their colloquial name. Their long, flexible snouts, along with their large eyes and ears, allow them to hunt for insects and escape predators.

Their long hind legs allow them to jump up to three feet in the air, similar to rabbits, and this is where the nickname “jumping shrew” comes from.

These shrews are extremely active and considered diurnal, which means they sleep at night and are awake during the day.

Habitat

These shrews belong to a special group of mammals known as Afrotheria, which means that they are of African origin. They can be seen in zoos, but they only live in the wild in Africa.

In particular, they can be found in savannahs, stone deserts, and arid steppes of the continent. The Namib Desert, which is famous for being one of the driest places in the world, is one of the locations where they are known to flourish, although shrews can also be found in the tropical forests of East Africa.

Diet

These animals are mainly insectivores, but they may also eat leaves, fruits, and seeds. Spiders, termites, ants, worms, centipedes, and millipedes are their diet of choice.

They use their proboscis-like noses and paws to clear small paths on the ground in order to lure insects close. They have exceptional senses of sight, hearing, and smell, and this helps them to both search for food and escape predators.

These shrews have long, skinny tongues like an anteater, and this helps them to hunt and eat insects more easily.

Predators and Threats

Because they are so small, these shrews face numerous predators, including lizards, snakes, and various birds of prey. While any carnivorous or omnivorous animal would prey on the elephant shrew, they are difficult to catch.

These shrews are well-adapted to their habitats. Not only are they masterfully camouflaged by their coloring, but they are also very speedy and nimble. Most elephant shrews can run up to 18 miles per hour and leap three feet into the air.

More than predators, the biggest threat to elephant shrews is habitat loss. Deforestation and habitat fragmentation caused by agriculture and logging have had a devastating impact on the elephant shrew population.

They are listed as “not extinct,” but their conservation status is generally considered endangered. The two species of these shrews that are considered the most threatened are the gray-faced sengi, which was only discovered in 2006, and the golden-rumped elephant shrew, which is officially listed as endangered. 

Reproduction, Babies, And Lifespan

These animals have relatively short lifespans, so they reach sexual maturity at an early age. Most elephant shrews live only two years in the wild and up to four years in captivity.

One unusual trait of these shrews is that the females have menstrual cycles that are very similar to those of human females. Most mammals are only sexually viable during certain times of the year, so frequent menstruation means they can produce multiple litters annually. Another uncommon trait is that elephant shrews mate for life, and these pairs fiercely defend their territory.

Gestation ranges from 45 to 60 days, and a typical healthy litter contains no more than three babies. It is common for female shrews to give birth to only one or two babies at a time.

Within a week of birth, the young are weaned from their mothers and ready to explore their surroundings. By day 15, they are ready to migrate away from the nest. The young elephant shrews will become sexually active after about 45 days and establish their own nests far away from their parents.