Head to head
Short-Eared Elephant Shrew vs North African Elephant Shrew
The short-eared elephant shrew and North African elephant shrew are both desert-adapted members of the elephant shrew order, but they occupy opposite ends of the African continent.
| Short-Eared Elephant Shrew | North African Elephant Shrew | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Macroscelides proboscideus | Elephantulus rozeti |
| Native range | Karoo region of southern Africa | Atlas Mountains of North Africa |
| Geographic distinction | None especially notable | Only sengi outside sub-Saharan Africa |
| Shelter strategy | Natural shelter, no self-dug burrows | Rock crevices |
| Relative size | Among the smallest in the order | Small, typical for its genus |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Population trend | Stable | Stable |
| Habitat | Desert | Desert, mountains |
Short-Eared Elephant Shrew vs North African Elephant Shrew: common questions
Why is the North African elephant shrew geographically significant?
This species is the only member of the entire elephant shrew order found outside sub-Saharan Africa, surviving in the rocky terrain of the Atlas Mountains, a distinction the short-eared elephant shrew does not share since it remains confined to the Karoo region of southern Africa.
How does the short-eared elephant shrew survive without burrows?
This species relies on natural shelter such as rock crevices and existing burrows made by other animals rather than digging its own, a strategy that has let it survive the resource-scarce Karoo desert without the investment of building dedicated burrows.
Do both species live in similarly dry habitat?
Yes, both species tolerate hot, dry conditions, with the short-eared elephant shrew adapted to the arid Karoo of southern Africa and the North African elephant shrew adapted to the rocky desert and mountain terrain of the Atlas Mountains region.