Cape elephant shrew
Species of mammal From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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 | |
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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) | |
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Cape elephant shrew range | |
Synonyms[2] | |
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References
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