Behavioral Ecology Blog

It’s always coolto hear about a new species discovery, especially when it’s a mammal. Unlike other taxa (thinking insects and “bugs”) there are probably very few new species left to discover.. Those new species are usually from relatively unexplored regions of the world. Particularly troubling is the fact that these areas are extremely threatened by human development, and are likely extremely vulnerable to climate change. Before I forget, a photo credits can be found here

Anyway, the new species in question here is Rhynchocyon sp. the Grey-Faced Sengi from Tanzania. Picured above, it is a bizzare slsephant shrew looking thing… Here are the details:

• Belongs to the genus Rhynchocyon which contains _15 other species.
• Endemis to teh Udzungwa Mountains of South Central Tanzania
• Mean Weight is 710g
• Mean Length is 564mm
• Dome shaped nests, typically at the base of a tree
• Diurnal

On an aside, here are a few images to remind us (me) of what it is like to do field work in a really remote place.. These photos were taken during the expedition in Tanzania to fund these animals. Recognize any of these guys? HINT: There is one that is a renowned Peromyscus behavioral ecologist who got his PhD at Berkeley..

Here is a video of the gray-faced sengi

Rovero, F., Rathbun, G.B., Perkin, A., Jones, T., Ribble, D.O., Leonard, C., Mwakisoma, R.R., Doggart, N. (2008). A new species of giant sengi or elephant-shrew (genus Rhynchocyon) highlights the exceptional biodiversity of the Udzungwa Mountains of Tanzania. Journal of Zoology, 274(2), 126-133. DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7998.2007.00363.x