North African elephant shrew

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North African elephant shrew
North African elephant shrew (Petrosaltator rozeti)

North African elephant shrew ( Petrosaltator rozeti )

Systematics
Superordinate : Afrotheria
without rank: Afroinsectiphilia
Order : Elephant jerk (Macroscelidea)
Family : Elephant jerk (Macroscelididae)
Genre : Petrosaltator
Type : North African elephant shrew
Scientific name of the  genus
Petrosaltator
Dumbacher , Carlen & Rathbun , 2016
Scientific name of the  species
Petrosaltator rozeti
( Duvernoy , 1833)

The North African elephant shrew ( Petrosaltator rozeti , partly Elephantulus rozeti ), or the North African shrews , is a species in the family of shrews . For a long time it was placed with the elephant shrews, to which it is morphologically very similar. However, individual features of the skeletal and soft tissue anatomy as well as the results of molecular genetics indicate a closer relationship to the proboscis . In 2016, it then received its own generic status. The species is the only member of the family found in north-western Africa north of the Sahara . The preferred habitat is rocky and dry landscapes with bushes vegetation . The elongated, trunk-like nose as well as the long hind and short front legs are typical in their external appearance, which is also characteristic of the elephant shrews. The animals live on the ground and feed mainly on insects . In terms of reproductive behavior , the species differs from the representatives of the elephant shrews due to a longer gestation period and an average higher number of newborns per litter . The North African elephant shrew was scientifically introduced in 1833.

description

Habitus

North African elephant shrew, preparation

The North African elephant shrew is one of the smaller representatives of the elephant shrew . Their head-trunk length is 10 to 12 cm, the tail is 10.5 to 13.7 cm long. Thus the tail reaches about 110% of the length of the rest of the body. The weight averages 45.3 g. The external appearance of the North African elephant shrew resembles that of the other representatives of the genus and is characterized by a large head with a trunk-like elongated nose and long hind and short front legs. The fur on the back is soft; along the center line, the individual hairs are 12 to 14 mm long. They have black bases and brown to yellowish brown tips. This gives the back fur a leather-brown color. Occasionally longer hairs with black tips sprout on the back. The sides of the body lighten. On the belly, the fur is tinted light gray with white-tipped hair. The tail shows a similar color scheme with a darker top and a lighter underside. A brush-like tuft of tail consisting of longer hair stands out at the tip of the tail. The ears are comparatively long with 21 to 27 mm, their tips are rounded. The tragus is also large. A brown patch of color can be seen behind each of the ears, which sometimes seems rather inconspicuous. The eyes are large, but slightly smaller compared to the elephant shrews. An eye ring , as developed in most elephant shrews, does not occur in the North African elephant shrew. Arms and legs each end in five rays with claws. Unlike the elephant shrews, wrinkled skin pads are formed between the individual fingers and toes. The rear foot is 30 to 34 mm long and therefore distinctly elongated.

Skull and dentition features

The length of the skull is 32.7 to 34.8 mm, the width at the zygomatic arches 19.2 to 20.5 mm. The rostrum is 15 mm long , measured from the first incisor . The dentition consists of 40 teeth together and has the following dental formula : . The lower central incisor (I2) is larger than the inner (I1) and outer (I3). In the upper row of teeth it is the other way round. The canine tooth resembles the rear molar teeth ( molar-shaped ), the second premolar is significantly narrower than that of the elephant shrews. The upper row of teeth is 16.8 to 18.8 mm long.

distribution

Distribution area (red-brown) of the North African elephant shrew

As the only representative of the elephant shrew , the North African elephant shrew inhabits parts of northwestern Africa and is thus isolated from the rest of the range of the genus and family. The species occurs from the northeastern part of the Western Sahara via Morocco , the northern part of Algeria , Tunisia to northwestern Libya . In the western range, the atlas divides the populations of the coastal region from those on the northern edge of the Sahara . However, the two groups are not completely separated, as the occurrence in the eastern distribution area is rather continuous. The altitude distribution extends from sea ​​level to 1600 m, the evidence of two individuals near Oukaïmeden at 2725 m altitude during December, when temperatures drop below freezing point , suggest that the species may be found even higher in the summer months. The preferred habitat consists of semi-desert , rocky regions, mountain slopes and scree fields with bush and grass vegetation. Overall, the North African elephant shrew is widespread and moderately common locally, but precise information on population density is not available.

Way of life

Territorial behavior

The North African elephant shrew is both diurnal and nocturnal, its phase of activity depends on the season. In summer it is limited to the late hours of the night from 2:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m., in winter to the morning from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., if necessary until 4:00 p.m. The species is living on the ground and a fast ( cursorial ) runner who walks four-footed running and jumping and is always on the alert. It looks for shelter under rock ledges and in crevices, where the temperatures are more balanced, sometimes it also occupies a hole in the ground that has been dug by another species. Regular sand baths are also part of the comfort behavior . With the help of glandular secretions , the North African elephant shrew exposes scent marks. A characteristic drumming of feet with the hind legs on the ground is part of the further intra-species communication.

nutrition

The main diet of the North African elephant shrew consists of insects and other invertebrates . A study on the diet of the species at Jbel El Taref in the north-eastern province of Oum El Bouaghi at an altitude of around 1130 m showed that insects account for up to 77.8% of the amount of food. Here outweighed ants and termites by far and here again representatives of the genera Tetramorium with 28.1% and Hodotermes 16.9%. In addition, the North African elephant shrew also devoured crustaceans , spiders and mollusks , and very rarely preyed on reptiles . Plants played a rather subordinate role and only consumed 5% of the food consumed. The animals look for food on the scree fields and under stones.

The North African elephant shrew has a clearly fluctuating body temperature, resting animals have a body temperature of about 32 ° C in the shade and 37 ° C in the sun at over 20 ° C outside temperature. In addition, the body temperature is strongly dependent on the activity and varies between 31 and 37 ° C. The thermoregulation takes place by changing from shady to sunny places, sometimes also by short sunbathing. At outside temperatures below 20 ° C, the body temperature drops to about this level. A torpor then also occurs . These rigid phases last at least 3.5 hours, the average is 13.6 hours. In total, they can last up to 20.1 hours, with the lowest recorded body temperature being 5.1 ° C. This is among the lowest known values ​​among the higher mammals and comes close to the minimum known from large hibernators . As a rule, the torpor begins in the early evening hours and ends in the morning, the North African elephant shrew is able to control the exit from the rigor itself. Torpor occurs not only in adverse weather conditions, but also frequently when there is a shortage of food.

Reproduction

The reproductive phase is seasonally limited and lasts from January to August, in higher altitudes with a harsher climate the beginning is delayed. The gestation period is 75 days, which is much longer than that of the elephant shrews. The first young are born in March or April. A litter consists of one to four newborns, the largest proportion of 58.3% consists of two. According to observations in northern Morocco, three to four young are born there - their share is 49.6% - which in turn is not known from any other representative of the genus. The newborns are well developed with open eyes and soft fur. They start to eat insect food during the suckling phase. Due to the long gestation period and the limited reproductive phase, females can only give birth twice a year. Life expectancy in the wild can be over two years, with captive animals reaching an age of seven years and two months.

Predators and parasites

Owls , in whose grooves the North African elephant shrew are regularly detected, and rock-dwelling snakes appear as important predators . External parasites include ticks of the genus Rhipicephalus and mites such as Straelensia . The numerous roundworms as internal parasites include pterygodermatites .

Systematics

Internal systematics of elephants according to Heritage et al. 2020
 Macroscelididae  
  Macroscelidinae  
  Macroscelidini  


 Galegeeska


   

 Petrodromus


   

 Petrosaltator




   

 Macroscelides



  Elephantulini  

 Elephantulus



  Rhynchocyoninae  

 Rhynchocyon



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Georges Louis Duvernoy

The North African elephant shrew is the only species in the genus Petrosaltator . Genus and species belong to the elephant family (Macroscelididae) within the order of the same name (Macroscelidea). The elephants, in turn, are a group of smaller mammals that are endemic to Africa. Within these two subfamilies can be distinguished today. The Rhynchocyoninae only include the proboscis dogs ( Rhynchocyon ), which means that they are to be regarded as monotypical . These largest representatives of the elephants are mainly animals adapted to densely forested habitats . The sister group in turn form the Macroscelidinae . In addition to Petrosaltator, they include the elephant shrews ( Elephantulus ) as well as the genera Petrodromus , Galegeeska and Macroscelides . The latter three jointly with Petrosaltator form the tribe of Macroscelidini while Elephantulus belonging to the tribe of Elephantulini. The representatives of the Macroscelidinae tend to live in drier and more open landscapes up to desert-like regions. Molecular genetic studies showed that the two subfamilies separated from each other in the Lower Oligocene about 32.8 million years ago. Within the Macroscelidinae, a greater splitting took place from the Upper Oligocene around 28.5 million years ago.

Two subspecies are assigned to the North African elephant shrew:

The latter is the nominate form and occurs north of the Atlas in Morocco and Algeria. It is generally darker in color and on average somewhat larger (total length of the upper row of teeth 17.0 to 18.8 mm). The former inhabits the regions south of the Atlas in Algeria and Tunisia, but its range does not extend into the Sahara . Their back fur has a lighter, yellowish-brown to sand-colored tint, and it is also slightly smaller than the nominate shape (total length of the upper row of teeth from 16.5 to 17.6 mm). Fossil finds of the North African elephant shrew are not yet known. Individual tooth finds come from the cave of Guenfouda in eastern Morocco. The age of the finds is determined on the basis of the accompanying cardial-decorated ceramics at around 7000 years ( imprint culture ), which corresponds to the Middle Holocene . In some karst sites in the western desert of Egypt, which date back to the Upper Miocene , remains of elephants have also been found. Possibly this also speaks for a formerly larger distribution area of ​​the North African elephant shrew in northern Africa in the geological past.

Research history - On the position within the Macroscelidinae

Internal system of elephant shrews according to Smit et al. 2011 (shortened) and the position of the Somali elephant shrew
 Elephantulus  


 Elephantulus fuscus


   

 Elephantulus fuscipes



   

 Galegeeska


   
 " Panelephantulus clade "  

 Macroscelides


   

 Petrodromus


   

 Petrosaltator rozeti




   

 remaining elephant shrews





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The first scientific description of the North African elephant shrew was carried out by Georges Louis Duvernoy in 1833 under the species name Macroscelides rozeti . He had a copy at his disposal that had been sent from Algeria to Strasbourg by the French engineer and geologist Claude-Antoine Rozet . Duvernoy was familiar with the work of Andrew Smith , who had introduced similar animals from South Africa just a few years earlier. He named his species rozeti in honor of the finder . Duvernoy gave the region near Oran in north-western Algeria as the type locality .

The assignment of small-stature elephants to the genus Macroscelides was common in the course of the 19th century. With the increase in the number of newly described species, however, morphological differences were also increasingly recognized. For this reason, Oldfield Thomas and Harold Schwann split the genus Elephantulus (elephant shrews) from Macroscelides in 1906 . Accordingly, Macroscelides includes forms with an enlarged tympanic bladder , while Elephantulus includes representatives with a normally built tympanic bladder (a third genus introduced by the authors, Nasilio , with also normal tympanic bladder but three molars in the lower jaw is now included within Elephantulus ). Thomas and Schwann referred in their publication a larger part of the known species including the North African elephant shrew to the genus Elephantulus . Their position within this genus was hardly doubted in the following period due to the external morphological similarities to the elephant shrews. However, studies on the penis structure of elephant shrews presented in 1995 gave the first indications that the North African elephant shrew may have a closer relationship to the proboscis, which was due, among other things, to the development of two lateral lobes near the tip. A first molecular genetic study was published in 2003, but not all species of elephant shrews were included. However, they initially supported a closer relationship between the proboscis and the North African elephant shrew and determined a separation of the two species in the Middle Miocene, about 11.6 million years ago.

In 2011 a comprehensive molecular genetic study of elephants was presented. This showed the close relationship of a group of elephant shrews that were predominantly distributed in South and East Africa. This common group could already be worked out beforehand through analyzes of alloenzymes and isoenzymes . In addition, the genetic studies showed a closer position of the North African elephant shrew with Petrodromus and Macroscelides , whereby the genus Elephantulus became paraphyletic . A parallel study from the same year produced almost the same result. In the period that followed, further morphological studies supported the genetically obtained results. Only in the North African elephant shrew and the proboscis, mammary glands are also formed in males. In terms of general skull structure, the proboscis largely resembles the elephant shrews, while the Macroscelides species differ significantly from this group due to their bulging tympanic membranes. On the other hand, when looking at the Basicranium alone, a similar group consisting of Macroscelides , Petrodromus , the North African elephant shrew and plus the Somali elephant shrew ( Galegeeska revoili ) and the red-brown elephant shrew ( Elephantulus rufescens ) could be recognized. This closed group contrasts with another group of South African species of elephant shrews. Furthermore, computed tomographic scans of the inner ear of the elephant shrews showed that again only the Macroscelides species, the proboscis and the North African elephant shrew have an ossified nerve canal that does not occur in other forms of Macroscelidinae. Because of this, this emerging common group was provisionally designated as " Panelephantulus clade ".

In principle, the embedding of the Panelephantulus clade within the elephant shrews and the resulting paraphyly made a reassessment of the group necessary. The allocation of the North African elephant shrew to a new, independent genus or a shift to the genus Petrodromus was proposed . A third alternative would be the dissolution of the other two genera ( Petrodoromus and Macroscelides ) and a merger of all species into Elephantulus , which would make the Macroscelidinae monotypical. In 2016, John P. Dumbacher and fellow researchers decided on the first route and created the genus Petrosaltator for the North African elephant shrew. This was justified with the clear morphological deviation from the proboscis and the striking differences in distribution of the two species, which advocated a separate genus status of the North African elephant shrew. The generic name Petrosaltator is derived on the one hand from the Greek word πέτρα ( petra ) for "rock", on the other hand from the Latin term saltator for "dancer", which generally indicates the distribution of the species in rocky or stony landscapes. The similarity of the name to Petrodromus (Greek for "rock runner") should also remind of the close relationship between the North African elephant shrew and the proboscis. At the same time, the authors raised the Panelephantulus clade to the level of a tribe and named it Macroscelidini. In 2020 it was recognized through genetic studies that the Somali elephant shrew also belongs to this family group of the proboscis, the North African elephant shrew and the Macroscelides species. According to the research, the entire complex of the Macroscelidini split up in the Lower Miocene about 20.6 million years ago.

North African elephant shrew and man

North African elephant shrew in art and culture

The head of the ancient Egyptian god Seth as a reproduction of a North African elephant shrew?

Some scientists cite the North African elephant shrew as the godfather for the characteristic design of the head of the ancient Egyptian god Seth . The view that the sacred animal of the god Seth was to be found in the row of the elephants first appeared at the beginning of the 20th century, but initially it was associated with Macroscelides according to the then common system (the genera Elephantulus and Petrosaltator were not yet Are defined). It is not known whether elephants were actually present in the region at the time of the ancient Egyptians, fossil or sub-fossil remains from the Nile valley are not documented. In part, the stencil-like character of the representation of Seth compared to the other animal-human representations in ancient Egypt is attributed to the possible rarity of the animals. In the 1968 revision of the elephant shrew, Corbet and Hanks speculated that the North African elephant shrew was originally much more common. In their opinion, the occurrence in northern Africa, which is widely separated from the other representatives, and the then assumed closer relationship with the East African representatives of the elephant shrews, led to an immigration of the species in the Pleistocene via the valley of the Nile, where they may still be present in ancient Egyptian times and so it could serve as the basis for the design of Seth's head. The molecular genetic data of a very early split of the North African elephant shrew in the late Middle Miocene around 11 million years ago and their possible closer relationship with the proboscis also make other scenarios of origin of the species conceivable. Accordingly, the formation of the Sahara at that time could have separated the originally widespread precursors of both species, which led to their current distribution. However, studies show that during the Last Ice Age the North African elephant shrew could have spread far beyond North Africa, which means that a presence at that time in today's Nile Valley cannot be ruled out.

Threat and protection

No major threats are known to the entire North African elephant shrew population. Locally, especially in Morocco and Algeria, the destruction of the landscape as a result of the strong population increase and intensification of pasture management can lead to declining population sizes. Due to its wide distribution, the IUCN currently regards the species as “not endangered” ( least concern ). It occurs in several protected areas. The North African elephant shrew is rarely cared for in zoological institutions; former owners in Europe are Wuppertal, Berlin, Cologne, Frankfurt am Main and London.

literature

  • GB Corbet and J. Hanks: A revision of the elephant-shrews, Family Macroscelididae. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Zoology 16, 1968, pp. 47-111
  • John P. Dumbacher, Elizabeth J. Carlen and Galen B. Rathbun: Petrosaltator gen. Nov., A new genus replacement for the North African sengi Elephantulus rozeti (Macroscelidea; Macroscelididae). Zootaxa 4136 (3), 2016, pp. 567-579
  • Stephen Heritage: Macroscelididae (Sengis). In: Don E. Wilson and Russell A. Mittermeier (eds.): Handbook of the Mammals of the World. Volume 8: Insectivores, Sloths and Colugos. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona 2018, pp. 206-234 (pp. 230-231) ISBN 978-84-16728-08-4
  • Mike Perrin and Galen B. Rathbun: Elephantulus rozeti North African Sengi (North African Elephant-shrew). In: Jonathan Kingdon, David Happold, Michael Hoffmann, Thomas Butynski, Meredith Happold and Jan Kalina (eds.): Mammals of Africa Volume I. Introductory Chapters and Afrotheria. Bloomsbury, London, 2013, pp. 272-273

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e f g h i Mike Perrin and Galen B. Rathbun: Elephantulus rozeti North African Sengi (North African Elephant-shrew). In: Jonathan Kingdon, David Happold, Michael Hoffmann, Thomas Butynski, Meredith Happold and Jan Kalina (eds.): Mammals of Africa Volume I. Introductory Chapters and Afrotheria. Bloomsbury, London, 2013, pp. 272-273
  2. ↑ a b c d e G. B. Corbet and J. Hanks: A revision of the elephant-shrews, Family Macroscelididae. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Zoology 16, 1968, pp. 47-111
  3. ↑ a b c d e f Stephen Heritage: Macroscelididae (Sengis). In: Don E. Wilson and Russell A. Mittermeier (eds.): Handbook of the Mammals of the World. Volume 8: Insectivores, Sloths and Colugos. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona 2018, pp. 206-234 (pp. 230-231) ISBN 978-84-16728-08-4
  4. ↑ F. Cuizin and M. Séguignes: Capture d'Elephantulus rozeti (Macroscelidae, Macroscelididae) dans le Haut-Atlas marocain au-dessus de 2700 m. Mammalia 54 (1), 1990, pp. 164-165
  5. ↑ a b M. Séguignes: La torpeur chez Elephantulus rozeti (Insectivora, Macroscelididae). Mammalia 47 (1), 1983, pp. 88-91
  6. ↑ Faiza Marniche, Amel Milla, Sedik Garreh and Salheddine Doumandji: Overview of the diet of the shrew of elephant of North Africa Elephantulus rozeti (Duvernoy, 1833) (Mammalia, Macroscelididae) around the Jbel El Taref (Oum El Bouaghi - Arid semi) . International Journal of Zoology and Research (IJZR) 4 (1), 2014, pp. 7-10
  7. ^ Mike Perrin: Comparative aspects of the metabolism and thermal biology of elephant-shrews (Macroscelidea). Mammal Review 25, 1995, pp. 61-78
  8. ^ BG Lovegrove, J. Raman and MR Perrin: Heterothermy in elephant shrews, Elephantulus spp. (Macroscelidea): daily torpor or hibernation. Journal of Comparative Physiology 171, 2001, pp. 1-10
  9. ^ BG Lovegrove, J. Raman and MR Perrin: Daily torpor in elephant shrews (Macroscelidae: Elephantulus spp.) In response to food deprivation. Journal of Comparative Physiology 171, 2001, pp. 11-21
  10. ↑ M. Séguignes: Contribution à l'etude de la reproduction d'Elephantulus rozeti (Insectivora, Macroscelididae). Mammalia 53 (3), 1989, pp. 377-386
  11. ^ Gea Olbricht: Longevity and fecundity in sengis (Macroscelidea). Afrotherian Conservation 5, 2007, pp. 3-5
  12. ↑ H. Bailly-Choumara, PC Morel and J. Rageau: Première contribution au catalog of tiques du Maroc (Acari, Ixodoidea). Bulletin de la Société des Sciences Naturelles du Maroc 54 (1/2), 1974, pp. 1-10
  13. ↑ Wayne A. Brown: Two new species of Apoloniinae (Acari: Trombiculoidea: Leeuwenhoekiidae) from African small mammals, with a key to the species of the world. Folia Parasitologica 53, 2006, pp. 217-222
  14. ↑ Jean-Claude Quentin: Pterygodermatites (Neopaucipectines) zaiedi n.sp., Nouveau Nématode Rictulaire parasite du Macroscélide en Tunisie. Zoologie 351, 1978, pp. 37-41
  15. ↑ a b c Steven Heritage, Houssein Rayaleh, Djama G. Awaleh and Galen B. Rathbun: New records of a lost species and a geographic range expansion for sengis in the Horn of Africa. PeerJ 8, 2020, p. E9652, doi: 10.7717 / peerj.9652
  16. ↑ a b c d Hanneline Adri Smit, Bettine Jansen van Vuuren, PCM O'Brien, M. Ferguson-Smith, F. Yang and TJ Robinson: Phylogenetic relationships of elephant-shrews (Afrotheria, Macroscelididae). Journal of Zoology 284, 2011, pp. 133-143
  17. ^ Mike Perrin and Galen B. Rathbun: Order Macroscelidea-Sengis (Elephant-shrews). In: Jonathan Kingdon, David Happold, Michael Hoffmann, Thomas Butynski, Meredith Happold and Jan Kalina (eds.): Mammals of Africa Volume I. Introductory Chapters and Afrotheria. Bloomsbury, London, 2013, pp. 258-260
  18. ↑ Oldfield Thomas: List of small mammals obtained by Mr. AE Pease, MP, during his recent expedition to Abyssinia, with descriptions of three new forms of Macroscelides. The Annals and magazine of natural history 7 (8), 1901, pp. 154–156 ( [1] )
  19. ↑ Juan Manuel López-García, Jordi Agustí and Hassan Aouraghe: The small mammals from the Holocene site of Guenfouda (Jerada, Eastern Morocco): chronological and paleoecological implications. Historical Biology: An International Journal of Paleobiology 25 (1), 2013, pp. 51-57
  20. ↑ HA Wanas, M. Pickford, P. Mein, H. Soliman and L. Segalen: Late Miocene karst system at Sheikh Abdallah, between Bahariya and Farafra, Western Desert, Egypt: Implications for palaeoclimate and geomorphology. Geologica Acta 7 (4), 2009, pp. 475-487
  21. ↑ a b Árpád S. Nyári, A. Townsend Peterson and Galen B. Rathbun: Late Pleistocene Potential Distribution of the North African Sengi or Elephant Shrew Elephantulus rozeti (Mammalia: Macroscelidea). African Zoology 45 (2), 2010, pp. 330-339
  22. ↑ Patricia A. Holroyd: Macroscelidea. In: Lars Werdelin and William Joseph Sanders (eds.): Cenozoic Mammals of Africa. University of California Press, Berkeley, London, New York, 2010, pp. 89-98
  23. ^ Galen B. Rathbun: Eponyms in the Afrotheria: Who were the people that had Afrotheria species named after them? Afrotherian Conservation 9, 2012, pp. 5-6
  24. ^ Georges Louis Duvernoy: Description d'un macroscélide d'un Algiers. Mémoirs Société d'Histoire Naturelle de Strasbourg 1 (2), 1833, pp. 1–25 ( [2] )
  25. ↑ Oldfield Thomas and Harold Schwann: The Rudd exploration of South Africa. V. List of mammals obtained by Mr. Grant in the North East Transvaal. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1906, pp. 575-591 ( [3] )
  26. ^ GB Corbet: A cladistic look at classification within the subfamily Macroscelidinae based upon morphology. Mammal Review 25 (1/2), 1995, pp. 15-17
  27. ^ PF Woodall: The penis of elephant shrews (Mammalia: Macroscelididae). Journal of Zoology 237, 1995, pp. 399-410
  28. ↑ a b Christophe J. Douady, François Catzeflis, Jaishree Raman, Mark S. Springer and Michael J. Stanhope: The Sahara as a vicariant agent, and the role of Miocene climatic events, in the diversification of the mammalian order Macroscelidea (elephant shrews ). PNAS 100 (14), 2003, pp. 8325-8330
  29. ^ J. Raman and Mike Perrin: Allozyme and isozyme variation in seven southern African Elephant-shrew species. Journal for Mammalian Science 62, 1997, pp. 108-116
  30. ^ Matjaž Kutner, Laura J. May-Collado and Ingi Agnarsson: Phylogeny and conservation priorities of afrotherian mammals (Afrotheria, Mammalia). Zoologica Scripta 40, 2011, pp. 1-15
  31. ^ Gea Olbricht and William T. Stanley: The topographic distribution of the penis and mammary glands in sengis (Macroscelidea) and its usefulness for taxonomic distinctions. Zoosystematics and Evolution 85 (2), 2009, 297-303
  32. ↑ Fabiana Panchetti, Massimiliano Scalici, Giuseppe Maria Carpaneto and Giancarlo Gibertini: Shape and size variations in the cranium of elephant-shrews: a morphometric contribution to a phylogenetic debate. Zoomorphology 127, 2008, pp. 69-82
  33. ↑ Massimiliano Scalici and Fabiana Panchetti: Morphological cranial diversity contributes to phylogeny in soft-furred sengis (Afrotheria, Macroscelidea). Zoology 114, 2011, pp. 85-94
  34. ↑ a b c Julien Benoit, Nick Crumpton, Samuel Merigeaud and Rodolphe Tabuce: Petrosal and Bony Labyrinth Morphology Supports Paraphyly of Elephantulus Within Macroscelididae (Mammalia, Afrotheria). Journal of Mammalian Evolution 21, 2014, pp. 173-193
  35. ↑ John P. Dumbacher, Galen B. Rathbun, Timothy O. Osborne, Michael Griffin and Seth J. Eiseb: A new species of round-eared sengi (genus Macroscelides) from Namibia. Journal of Mammalogy 95 (3), 2014, pp. 443-454
  36. ↑ John P. Dumbacher, Elizabeth J. Carlen and Galen B. Rathbun: Petrosaltator gen. Nov., A new genus replacement for the North African sengi Elephantulus rozeti (Macroscelidea; Macroscelididae). Zootaxa 4136 (3), 2016, pp. 567-579
  37. ↑ G. Thilenius: The sacred animal of the god Seth. Recueil de travaux relatifs à la philologie et à l'archéologie égyptiennes et assyriennes 22, 1900, pp. 214–218 ( [4] )
  38. ^ CJ van der Horst: Some remarks on the biology of reproduction in the female of Elephantulus, the holy animal of Set. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa 31 (2), 1946, pp. 181-199
  39. ^ Fred W. Koontz and Nancy J. Roeper: Elephantulus rufescens. Mammalian Species 204, 1983, pp. 1-5
  40. ↑ M. Perrin, C. FitzGibbon, C. Stuart, R. Hutterer and F. Cuzin: Elephantulus rozeti. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.3. ( [5] ); last accessed on April 25, 2015
  41. ↑ Zoo animal list ( [6] ), last accessed on June 15, 2015

Web links

Commons : North African elephant shrew  - Collection of images, videos and audio files