African Nature. Small Five. Elephant Shrew.
Elephant shrew
This tiny carnivore lives in arid lowlands, rocky outcrops and savannah grasslands, taking its name from its elongated snout. Elephant shrews (Elephantulus myurus) are found throughout South Africa and grow to only 250 mm in length with an average weight of 60 grams. They feed on insects, fruits, seeds and nuts.
They, in turn, are food for snakes and predators, which makes them extremely shy and alert. The chances of spotting them are really slim, so if you manage to spot an elephant shrew before a real elephant, you can consider your safari a real success!
Comments
Post a Comment