Cape elephant shrew | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Macroscelidea |
Family: | Macroscelididae |
Genus: | Elephantulus |
Species: | E. edwardii
|
Binomial name | |
Elephantulus edwardii (
A. Smith, 1839)
| |
Cape elephant shrew range | |
Synonyms [2] | |
|
The Cape elephant shrew (Elephantulus edwardii), [2] [3] also known as the Cape rock elephant-shrew [1] [4] or Cape rock sengi, [1] is a species of elephant shrew in the family Macroscelididae. It is endemic to South Africa, although it is a relatively common animal. Its natural habitat is rocky areas. [1] Elephant shrews are not closely related to true shrews, nor to rodents such as mice. [3] E. edwardii has been observed to be a non-flying mammal pollinator of the pagoda lily ( Massonia bifolia). Elephant shrews are floral pollinators due to their largely insectivorous diet. [5] Elephant-shrews are pollinators of Hyobanche atropurpurea. [6] It uses its long slender tongue to feed on the pagoda lily's nectar while getting the lily's pollen on its long nose. [4] E. edwardii is also a pollinator of Protea sulphurea. [7]
Cape elephant shrew | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Macroscelidea |
Family: | Macroscelididae |
Genus: | Elephantulus |
Species: | E. edwardii
|
Binomial name | |
Elephantulus edwardii (
A. Smith, 1839)
| |
Cape elephant shrew range | |
Synonyms [2] | |
|
The Cape elephant shrew (Elephantulus edwardii), [2] [3] also known as the Cape rock elephant-shrew [1] [4] or Cape rock sengi, [1] is a species of elephant shrew in the family Macroscelididae. It is endemic to South Africa, although it is a relatively common animal. Its natural habitat is rocky areas. [1] Elephant shrews are not closely related to true shrews, nor to rodents such as mice. [3] E. edwardii has been observed to be a non-flying mammal pollinator of the pagoda lily ( Massonia bifolia). Elephant shrews are floral pollinators due to their largely insectivorous diet. [5] Elephant-shrews are pollinators of Hyobanche atropurpurea. [6] It uses its long slender tongue to feed on the pagoda lily's nectar while getting the lily's pollen on its long nose. [4] E. edwardii is also a pollinator of Protea sulphurea. [7]