Elephantulus revoulii, Huet, 1881

Russell A. Mittermeier & Don E. Wilson, 2018, Macroscelididae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 8 Insectivores, Sloths and Colugos, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 206-234 : 231

12.

Somali Sengi

Elephantulus revoulii

French: Sengi de Somalie / German: Somalia-Elefantenspitzmaus / Spanish: Sengi de Somalia

Other common names: Somali Elephant-shrew

Taxonomy. Macroscelides revoilii Huet, 1881 ,

“ Medjourtine ( Pays des Somalis [= Somali country]).”

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. N Somalia (Somaliland and W Nugaal).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 122-148 mm, tail 144-167 mm, ear 23-25 mm, hindfoot 34-39 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. Tail of the Somali Sengiis relatively long at ¢.120% of

head-body length, pinnae are broad and upright, and snout is long, thin, and flexible. Similar phenotypes of the Somali Sengi and the Rufous Sengi ( E. rufescens ) are probably evidence of sister-species relationship. Dorsum is pale brown to pink-gray, with tone that is overall less yellow than in the Rufous Sengi. Behind each ear, patch of dark buff hair extends onto nape of neck. Venter is gray-white, with hairs that are dark gray to black for basal one-third and white for distal two-thirds. Pectoral gland is fringed with distinguishable short white hairs. Tail hairs are white, with brown tips. Longer hairs near tip oftail form small tuft. Pinnae are nearly hairless, and rhinarium is hairy below. Narrow white eye-ring is present, with thin post-ocular patch of dark brown hair that intrudes on eye-ring and extends posteriorly. White ‘brow’ branches from the eye-ring and sweeps superiorly adjacent to post-ocular patch and extends to near base of ear. Hairy inferior rhinarium and spectacled pelage pattern around eyes are traits shared only with the Rufous Sengi. Females have two anterior, two intermediate, and two posterior nipples; males have no nipples. Five digits are present on each manus and pes. Pectoral and subcaudal glands are present. Dental formula is I 3/3, C 1/1, P 4/4, M 2/2 (x2) = 40. Size of second upper incisor is subequal to adjacent upper incisors. Canine sizes are subequal to adjacent teeth. Several bilateral pairs of palatal foramina are present. Postorbital processes are absent.

Habitat. Reportedly rocky dwelling (rupicolous), but little information available. In northern Somalia, distribution of the Somali Sengi is in areas with montane ecosystems. In parts ofits distribution, it might be sympatric with the Rufous Sengi, which could support a hypothesis of rupicolous and arenicolous sister species using different habitats where they co-occur—e.g. the Bushveld Sengi (FE. intufi ) and the Western Rock Sengi ( E. rupestris ).

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. No information.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Data Deficient on The IUCN Red List. Population trend of the Somali Sengi is unknown. All collected voucher specimens predate 1968. About ten localities of occurrence have been recorded that fall in ¢.100,000 km?. Although no explicit threats are known, paucity of information about habitat and life history of the Somali Sengi, combined with outdated distributional data, make it impossible to assess its conservation status. Surveys are difficult because of the poor security in the region. Global Wildlife Conservation’s Search for Lost Species initiative includes the Somali Sengi among the 25 Most Wanted Lost Species.

Bibliography. Corbet & Hanks (1968), Perrin (2013d), Rathbun (2009, 2015f), Rathbun et al. (2014).

Figures

1. Golden-rumped Seng (Rhynchocyon chrysopygus), 2. Chequered Sengi (Rhynchocyon cirne), 3. White-tailed Sengi (Rhynchocyon stuhlmanni), 4. Black-and-rufous Sengi (Rhynchocyon petersi), 5. Gray-faced Sengi (Rhynchocyon udzungwensis), 6. Namib Round-eared Sengi (Macroscelides flavicaudatus), 7. Karoo Round-eared Sengi (Macroscelides proboscideus), 8. Etendeka Round-eared Sengi (Macroscelides micus), 9. Four-toed Sengi (Petrodromus tetradactylus), 10. North African Sengi (Petrosaltator rozeti), 11. Rufous Sengi (Elephantulus rufescens), 12. Somali Sengi (Elephantulus revoulii), 13. Dusky-footed Sengi (Elephantulus fuscipes), 14. Short-snouted Sengi (Elephantulus brachyrhynchus), 15. Dusky Sengi (Elephantulus fuscus), 16. Bushveld Sengi (Elephantulus intufi), 17. Western Rock Sengi (Elephantulus rupestris), 18. Eastern Rock Sengi (Elephantulus mywrus), 19. Cape Rock Sengi (Elephantulus edwardii), 20. Karoo Rock Sengi (Elephantulus pilicaudus)

Distribution. N Somalia (Somaliland and W Nugaal).