Grey-faced sengi
| Grey-faced sengi | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Macroscelidea |
| Family: | Macroscelididae |
| Genus: | Rhynchocyon |
| Species: | R. udzungwensis |
| Binomial name | |
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Rhynchocyon udzungwensis F. Rovero and G. Rathbun, 2008 |
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| Grey-faced sengi range | |
The grey-faced sengi (Rhynchocyon udzungwensis) is a species of elephant shrew that is endemic to the Udzungwa Mountains of south-central Tanzania. The discovery of the species was announced in January 2008; only 15 species of elephant shrew were known until then, and the last discovery was made more than 120 years ago. As the name implies, the species is characterised by a distinctive grey face and a black rump, as well as being larger than the other species of elephant shrews.
The fur of this sengi is sparse and glossy with a gray facial coloration and bright red pelage. A wide maroon stripe is noted along the back of the animal, as well as jet-black hindquarters with a light brown belly and tail. In comparison to the other sengis, the grey-faced sengi is larger in proportion and the upper tooth row is longer. The mean length of this species is 56.4 cm (22.2 in), while the mean weight is 711 g (25.1 oz). At 700 g (1.5 lb), this species is about 25% larger than any other known sengi.
The grey-faced sengi is a species of the elephant shrew or sengi family, belonging to the genus Rhynchocyon. Its discovery was announced in 2008. Until this species was discovered, only 15 species of elephant shrew were known, with the last living species having been described more than a century ago (the eastern rock elephant shrew, Elephantulus myurus). The event therefore represents a rare discovery, not only for these animals, but also for mammals in general. The creature was found living in a small community in the high-altitude Ndundulu Forest in Tanzania's Udzungwa Mountains, an isolated area of great biodiversity, where a number of other new species have been discovered, including the Udzungwa partridge, a species of monkey called the kipunji, and several species of amphibians and reptiles.
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