Scientists discover a tiny, furry, elephant like creature
A furry mammal with a trunk-like nose was caught scampering about in a remote African forest. This elephant shrew, a large one, is likely a new species.
Conservationists studying the biodiversity of the Boni-Dodori forest on the coast of northeastern Kenya had set up camera traps there after a scientist had spotted an elephant shrew (also called a sengi) she didn’t recognize.
The team, which included the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), will next analyze the animal’s DNA to confirm whether or not it is indeed a new species of elephant shrew.
If it is a new species, that would make 18 species of sengi in the family Macroscelididae (13 species of soft-furred sengi and five species of the giant sengi). All are native to Africa. The animals are more closely related to elephants than shrews, despite being relatively small creatures – ranging from 4 to 12 inches (10 to 30 centimeters) in length and weighing from less than a tenth of a pound to 1.5 pounds (30 to 700 grams).
Picture credit: Zoological Society of London
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Holte Ender
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It looks like a squeetastic cross between a tapir and an agouti! SO cute!
Hmmm, I wonder how it would taste in a little curry…hmmm
Wow! What a fascinating story. Cryptozoology would be such a great job to have!
Got it from the Christian Science Monitor, there is a link CSM.
I think the comment was more related to my distrustful nature 🙂
Fascinating if true and not photo shopped. 🙂
Wonder what O’Donnell’s thoughts would be on this. I sure it would be something significant about a new species and how that relates to those in her world here.
I bet it tastes real good!
It’s just a mouse with a human brain. They are working on that according to her. Teh stoopid is strong with her.