Grey-faced sengi
Graugesichtiges elephant shrew ( Rhynchocyon udzungwensis )
The gray-faced elephant shrew ( Rhynchocyon udzungwensis ) is a mammal of the family of elephant shrews ( Macroscelididae ). It is the largest member of this group and was described scientifically in 2008.
Features
As with all elephant shrew are characterized by the long proboscis snout the gray-faced elephant shrew. The legs are long and thin, with the hind legs are longer than the front legs. The tip of the snout is hairless and black, the rear part of the trunk and face are gray. Chest and chin are bright yellow, the flanks reddish- brown, the back dark brown and the back side of the hull is colored black. These animals can reach a weight of 700 grams and are therefore 25 to 50 % heavier than the other elephant shrew. The mean length of the animals is 56 centimeters.
Distribution and habitat
Gray-faced elephant shrew have so far occupied only from the Udzungwa Mountains of Tanzania. There are two known populations that inhabit areas of total 300 km2. Habitat of these animals are forested mountains 1000-2300 m above sea level.
Way of life
These animals are the previous observations, exclusively diurnal. For night's sleep they build nests from plant material, they are always created on the ground and most of trees.
Discovery
In 2005, the animals were first photographed by automatic cameras and mentioned in a publication of 2006 as a possible new way. The formal first description under the scientific name Rhynchocyon udzungwensis performed by Francesco Rovero et al. in February 2008.