Mammals
Short-Eared Elephant Shrew
Macroscelides proboscideus · also called short-eared sengi
Sheltering in a borrowed rock crevice rather than a burrow of its own, a short-eared elephant shrew survives the harsh, dry conditions of the Karoo, one of the smallest members of an order otherwise known for a distinctive flexible, trunk-like nose.
Overview
The short-eared elephant shrew, Macroscelides proboscideus, is a compact, desert-adapted insectivore native to arid habitat across southern Africa, including the Karoo of South Africa and Namibia. Its notably short ears compared with close relatives, small overall size among elephant shrews, and reliance on natural rather than self-dug shelter make it one of the more physically distinctive and ecologically specialised members of the elephant shrew order.
Small, dry, and resourceful
Rather than investing energy in digging its own burrows, the short-eared elephant shrew has adapted to make the most of whatever natural shelter the harsh Karoo landscape already provides, a resourceful strategy suited to its arid, resource-scarce habitat.
Status
Least Concern, remaining present across suitable desert habitat throughout the arid regions of southern Africa.
Short-Eared Elephant Shrew: common questions
Why is the short-eared elephant shrew named for its ears?
This species has notably shorter ears relative to its body size compared with several closely related elephant shrew species, a distinguishing physical feature that gives rise to its common name and helps separate it from longer-eared relatives.
Does the short-eared elephant shrew dig its own home?
No, this species does not dig its own burrows, instead relying on natural shelter such as rock crevices and existing burrows made by other animals to rest and hide from predators across its arid habitat.
How does the short-eared elephant shrew survive in such a dry habitat?
This species is well adapted to survive in the arid, semi-desert conditions of the Karoo, tolerating limited water availability and extreme temperature swings that would challenge many other small mammals.
How small is the short-eared elephant shrew?
This species is among the smallest members of the entire elephant shrew order, considerably more compact than larger relatives such as the golden-rumped elephant shrew, despite sharing the same distinctive flexible, trunk-like nose.