One of the 10 shrews on WAnimals
Mammals · Macroscelidea · Macroscelididae
Karoo Round-eared Sengi
Macroscelides proboscideus
The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary
It is one of the few genuinely monogamous mammals, forming pairs that defend their territory fiercely together, and a model for research into animal monogamy.
Weight
40 g – 50 g
Size
10 cm – 12 cm
Lifespan
1 years
Diet
Omnivore
Combines animal and plant food depending on availability.
Activity
Crepuscular
Active above all at dawn and dusk.
Social structure
In pairs
Usually lives in pairs, sometimes for life.
Sighting difficulty
Easy
Fun facts
- Females have menstrual cycles remarkably like a woman's.
- It feeds mainly on insects and other invertebrates, supplemented with shoots, roots and fruit.
- It lives in arid deserts and semi-deserts of south-western Africa.
Life cycle & biology
- Skeleton type
- Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
- Habitat & environment
- Arid deserts and semi-deserts of south-western Africa (Namibia, South Africa and Botswana)
- Birth weight
- ~7 grams at birth
- Size at birth
- Tiny at birth
- Sexual maturity
- 44 days
- Gestation / incubation
- 56-65 days
- Litter / clutch size
- 1 to 3 young per litter (most commonly 1-2)
- Lifespan in captivity
- Documented record of up to 3.25-8.7 years in captivity
Sources consulted: World Species; AnAge (genomics.senescence.info); Animal Database (Fandom); A-Z Animals; Animalia.bio; Animal Diversity Web; The Animal Files; Wikipedia (Macroscelides proboscideus)
Where to find it
See its range on the interactive mapBest time: All year round in the Karoo and the Namib, at dawn and dusk, running along the trails it keeps clear between the bushes.
Where to watch it
Parks and dive sites where this species has been documented.
Related species
Other species in the catalogue with the most in common with Karoo Round-eared Sengi — same habitat, park, country, tags or family.
Least ConcernAfrican Jackals
Lupulella mesomelas
Honey Badger
Mellivora capensis
Klipspringer
Oreotragus oreotragus
Rufous Elephant Shrew
Elephantulus rufescens
Four-toed Sengi
Petrodromus tetradactylus
Least ConcernRock Hyrax
Procavia capensis
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