Chequered sengi

The chequered sengi (also known as checkered sengi or checkered elephant shrew) is a species of elephant shrew in the family Macroscelididae. The scientific name is Rhynchocyon cirnei.

Checkered elephant shrew[1]
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[2]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Macroscelidea
Family:	Macroscelididae
Genus:	Rhynchocyon
Species:	R. cirnei
Binomial name
Rhynchocyon cirnei Peters, 1847
Checkered elephant shrew range

Description

Chequered sengis will grow to be around 25–30 cm (9.8–11.8 in) long, excluding their tail, making them one of the longest elephant shrews. Their average tail length is slightly over 25 centimeters, which is slightly shorter than their body length.^[3][4] They commonly weigh around half a kilogram (1.1 pounds), but will sometimes grow to be about 0.7 kg (1.5 lb).^[5] Their coat is usually a light to medium brown, but it can range from beige to dark brown. Their back contains alternating chestnut and lighter colors, creating a "checkered" pattern. Chequered sengis also contain stripes on the sides of their body, which have a darker color than most of their body.^[3]

Range and habitat

It is found in Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and possibly Central African Republic. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forest, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, subtropical or tropical moist montane forest, and subtropical or tropical dry shrubland. It is threatened by habitat loss.^[2]

Behavior

Captive chequered sengi eating an insect.

Chequered sengis will mate for life. The pair of them will defend a territory of a few acres.

Diet

The chequered sengis is primarily an insectivore, eating termites, ants, beetles and centipedes. It also will eat mollusks, eggs and small mammals, amphibians and birds.