Grey-faced Sengi

Taxobox


name = Grey-faced Sengi
status = VU
status_system = iucn3.1
status_ref =
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Mammalia
ordo = Macroscelidea
familia = Macroscelididae
genus = "Rhynchocyon"
species = "R. udzungwensis"
binomial = "Rhynchocyon udzungwensis"
binomial_authority = F. Rovero and G. Rathbun, 2008
synonyms =

The Grey-faced Sengi ("Rhynchocyon udzungwensis") is a species of elephant shrew, belonging to the genus "Rhynchocyon", whose discovery was announced in January 2008.cite web | url = http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iOZBW8DMT3rHIv5uyWjQHU30edVw | title = Shrew's who: New mammal enters the book of life | publisher = AFP | author = | date = 2008-01-31 | accessdate = 2008-01-31] Only fifteen species of elephant shrew were known up until this point, with the last living species having been described more than a century ago (the Eastern Rock Elephant Shrew, "Elephantulus myurus"). The event therefore represents a rare discovery, not only for these animals, but also for what concerns mammals in general. The creature was found living in a small community in the high-altitude Ndundulu forest in Tanzania's Udzungwa Mountains, an isolated area of great biodiversity where a number of other new species have been discovered, including the Udzungwa Forest-partridge, a species of monkey called the kipunji, and several species of amphibians and reptiles. The discovery was made by Galen Rathbun of the California Academy of Sciences and Francesco Rovero of the Museum of Natural Sciences in Trento, Italy. They are set to publish their findings in the February issue of the British "Journal of Zoology".cite journal |last=Rovero |first=F. |coauthors=G. B. Rathbun, A. Perkin, T. Jones, D. O. Ribble, C. Leonard, R. R. Mwakisoma, N. Doggart |month=February |year=2008 |title= A new species of giant sengi or elephant-shrew (genus "Rhynchocyon") highlights the exceptional biodiversity of the Udzungwa Mountains of Tanzania |journal=Journal of Zoology |volume=274 |issue=2 |pages=126–133 |doi=10.1111/j.1469-7998.2007.00363.x|url=http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1469-7998.2007.00363.x]

The species was first discovered by cameras set up by Rovero in 2005, and captured and observed directly the next year.cite web | url = http://www.scientificblogging.com/news_releases/discovery_new_species_of_giant_elephant_shrew | title = Discovery: First New Species Of Giant Elephant-Shrew In 126 Years | publisher = Scientific Blogging | author = | date = 2008-01-30 | accessdate = 2008-01-31] During a two-week expedition in March 2006, the zoologists were surprised by rain, even though it was supposed to be the dry season. They then found that the animal was larger than they had expected, and that the traps they had brought would not contain it. Instead they had to use traditional twine snares.

The new species was given the binomial name "Rhynchocyon udzungwensis" ('snouted dog from Udzungwa'), and the English name "grey-faced sengi" from its physical characteristics. It lives on forest floors and is characterised by "a distinctive grey face and a jet-black lower rump", as well as its size. At 700 grammes (1.5 pounds), this species is about 25 percent larger than any other known sengi.cite web | url = http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080201085759.htm | title = New Species Of Giant Elephant-shrew Discovered | publisher = Science Daily | author = | date = 2008-02-01 | accessdate = 2008-05-07] It has a body c.30cm long and a tail c.25cm long. So far only two populations are known, existing within an area covering around 300 square kilometres (115 square miles) of forest.

References

External links

* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_7220000/newsid_7221500/7221534.stm Video] on BBC.