Head to head
Golden-Rumped Elephant Shrew vs Checkered Elephant Shrew
The golden-rumped elephant shrew and checkered elephant shrew belong to the same genus but take opposite approaches to appearance, one bold and colourful, the other built to blend in.
| Golden-Rumped Elephant Shrew | Checkered Elephant Shrew | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Rhynchocyon chrysopygus | Rhynchocyon cirnei |
| Colour strategy | Bold golden rump patch | Mottled camouflage pattern |
| Native range | Narrow strip of coastal Kenya only | Broad range across Central Africa |
| Range breadth | Very restricted | Considerably wider |
| Relative size | Largest elephant shrew species | Smaller than its golden-rumped relative |
| Conservation status | Endangered | Least Concern |
| Population trend | Decreasing | Stable |
| Habitat | Rainforest, forest | Rainforest, forest |
Golden-Rumped Elephant Shrew vs Checkered Elephant Shrew: common questions
Why do the golden-rumped and checkered elephant shrews look so different?
The golden-rumped elephant shrew relies on a bold golden rump patch that stands out against its dark body, while the checkered elephant shrew instead uses a mottled, checkerboard-like pattern to blend into the dappled light of the forest floor, two opposite strategies within the same genus, Rhynchocyon.
Which of these two species has the wider range?
The checkered elephant shrew has the considerably wider range, spread across a broad swathe of Central Africa, while the golden-rumped elephant shrew is restricted to a single narrow strip of coastal Kenyan forest, a range so limited it is classified as Endangered.
Are the golden-rumped and checkered elephant shrews closely related?
Yes, both species belong to the same genus, Rhynchocyon, sharing the same general body plan, trunk-like nose, and leaf-litter foraging style, despite differing considerably in both colouring and geographic range.