Head to head
Golden-Rumped Elephant Shrew vs Black-And-Rufous Elephant Shrew
The golden-rumped elephant shrew and black-and-rufous elephant shrew are the two largest species in the entire elephant shrew order, both native to coastal East African forest and both under growing pressure from habitat loss.
| Golden-Rumped Elephant Shrew | Black-And-Rufous Elephant Shrew | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Rhynchocyon chrysopygus | Rhynchocyon petersi |
| Relative size | Largest elephant shrew species | Second-largest elephant shrew species |
| Signature colouring | Brilliant golden rump patch | Sharp black-front, rufous-rear split |
| Native range | Narrow strip of coastal Kenya only | Coastal Kenya and Tanzania |
| Range breadth | Very restricted | Somewhat broader |
| Conservation status | Endangered | Near Threatened |
| Population trend | Decreasing | Decreasing |
| Habitat | Rainforest, forest | Rainforest, forest |
Golden-Rumped Elephant Shrew vs Black-And-Rufous Elephant Shrew: common questions
Which is bigger, the golden-rumped or the black-and-rufous elephant shrew?
The golden-rumped elephant shrew is bigger, holding the record as the largest species in the entire elephant shrew order, while the black-and-rufous elephant shrew comes in a close second, still among the largest members of its family.
Which of these two species is more threatened?
The golden-rumped elephant shrew is more threatened, classified as Endangered due to its extremely narrow range confined to a single strip of coastal Kenyan forest, while the black-and-rufous elephant shrew ranges slightly more broadly across coastal Kenya and Tanzania and is classified as Near Threatened.
How can you tell these two elephant shrews apart?
The golden-rumped elephant shrew has a brilliant patch of golden-yellow fur across the rump, while the black-and-rufous elephant shrew instead has a body sharply divided into a black front half and a deep rufous-red rear half, two very different but equally bold colour patterns.