Mammals · Macroscelidea · Macroscelididae

Four-toed Sengi

Petrodromus tetradactylus

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

The four-toed sengi is a macroscelid mammal of the family Macroscelididae, the only species in the genus Petrodromus. It is native to Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe and possibly Namibia. Its natural habitats are tropical or subtropical forests, tropical or subtropical moist lowland forests, tropical or subtropical moist montane forests, and moist savanna.

Weight

160 g – 280 g

Size

16 cm – 22 cm

Lifespan

4 years

Diet

Insectivore

Feeds mainly on insects and other invertebrates.

Activity

Crepuscular

Active above all at dawn and dusk.

Social structure

In pairs

Usually lives in pairs, sometimes for life.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

SavannaRainforestTemperate forestInsectivore Diurnal Crepuscular In pairs Savanna Rainforest Temperate forest Mammal

9countries 8parks3same family

Fun facts

It spends a good part of the day sweeping its trails with its front feet: a dry leaf in the middle of the path can cost it its life when it flees at full speed.
It is called four-toed because it has lost the first toe of the hind feet, unlike the other macroscelids, which keep five.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: Understorey with thick leaf litter in dry forest, dense scrub and coastal forest of Africa
Gestation / incubation: 2 months
Litter / clutch size: 1.2 (average)

Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petrodromus_tetradactylus