Elephant Shrews Have Been Rediscovered in Africa After Disappearing for 50 Years
echo get_the_meta(); ?>
This precious little mouse-like creature is called the Somali elephant shrew. They have just been rediscovered in Africa after 50 years of obscurity. Yes, for the last 50 years, scientists, naturalists, and nature enthusiasts have all thought that this elephant shrew species had gone extinct and disappeared from the earth. The last scientific record of this species of elephant shrew was in the early 1970s. The tiny creature was discovered alive and well in Djibouti, a country nestled in the Horn of Africa, during a scientific expedition. Elephant shrews are neither elephants nor shrews, but actually they are related to manatees, aardvarks, and elephants. They have very distinct noses that look like trunks, which they use to feast on insects. There are 20 species of sengis globally, and the Somali sengi is one of the more mysterious species known to science only from 39 individuals collected decades ago and stored in museums. They were previously only found in Somalia, hence its name.
As you can probably tell, this animal looks pretty strange. Yes, they are adorable and even endearing in their own way. At first sight, it seems kind of like a mouse. But there’s also this tiny trunk-like nose that resembles an elephant’s. Some of the Somali sengi’s closest living relatives are the aardvark, elephant, and manatee. To find the creatures, an expert scientific team set over 1,000 traps at 12 separate locations, carroting the traps with a concoction of peanut butter and oatmeal. They caught one elephant shrew in the first trap they set in Djibouti’s dry, rocky landscape.
In total, they found 12 sengis during their expedition, and they managed to obtain the first-ever images and videos of living Somali elephant shrews for research. They did not detect any direct threats in the species’ habitat, which is inaccessible and far away from any human developments.
Mantis Shrimps are Terrifying, Here’s Why
The Mantis Shrimp is not quite a mantis and not quite a shrimp. This unique aquatic creature is
Animals / 2021-10
The Queen and Her Royal Love for Animals
Queen Elizabeth II is known not only as a fair leader, but also as one with a great affinity
Animals / 2021-10
A Man Built A Bird Feeder That Accepts Bottle Caps For Food
Hans Forsberg worked with robotics on industrial applications for artificial intelligence. He
Animals / 2021-10
The Scientific Explanation as to Why Dogs Are So Friendly
Marla, an 11-month-old English sheepdog, is so adorable for seeing everyone in the whole world as a
Animals / 2021-10
Simple Things You Should Know About Feeding Your Dog
Owning a dog is one of the most common things humans do in this age, so it is believed that taking
Animals / 2021-09
What Is Your Dog Trying To Tell You?
Dogs are a gift to humankind. With the majority of families across the world owning a dog or two,
Animals / 2021-09
Cats All Over the Screen; If Cats Could Text, What Would They Send?
You may be a cat person, you may be a dog person, or even a bird or a lizard person. If you’ve
Animals / 2021-08
These Babies With Their Furry Friends Will Melt Your Heart Part 2
Parenting is not easy. Not with human babies and not with adopted furbabies. This is why you were
Animals / 2021-08
Which Breed of Dog Is Best Suited To You and Your Home?
Are you considering adding a four-legged member to the family? Some dogs may be a better fit for
Animals / 2021-08
Cats Show Their Humans Who’s Boss in These Priceless Photos Part 2
There are two kinds of people in this world — those who worship cats, and those who think they
Animals / 2021-07