Rhynchocyon cirnei
checkered elephant-shrew
(Also: checkered sengi)

Checkered elephant shrews are found only in central and southeast Africa, in the countries of Uganda, southern Tanzania, northern Zaire, northern and eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, northern and central Mozambique, northeastern Zambia, and Malawi. (Ansell and Dowsett, 1988; Ansell, 1978; Bere, 1962; Boitani, 1999; Dorst and Dandelot, 1970; Grzimek et al., 2003)

Checkered elephant shrews prefer lowland and montane tropical rainforests. They are also found in forest mosaics (open woodlands and woodlands mosaics), grasslands, riparian forests, shrublands, bushlands, and croplands. Checkered elephant shrews are well adapted to areas where there is a plentiful supply of food and water year round. (African Wildlife Foundation, 2005; Ansell and Dowsett, 1988; Ansell, 1978; Bere, 1962; Dorst and Dandelot, 1970; Grzimek et al., 2003)

Checkered elephant shrews are one of the largest elephant shrews, ranging in body length from 22.9 to 30.5 centimeters and tail length from 17.8 to 25.4 centimeters. They weigh 410 to 550 grams. The coat has several dark stripes that run on either side of the body. A “checkered” pattern is created on the back with alternating chestnut and off-white colors. The background color ranges from beige to yellowish brown to dark brown. Members of the genus Rhynchocyon tend to have bright colors and patterns on their fur. The hind legs are longer than the fore limbs, resulting in a hunchbacked posture. Their forelimbs have three long claws used to excavate small holes in the ground. Checkered elephant shrews also have long and tapering tails, with scent glands located just behind the anus. The nose is elongated and the tongue, which is used to pick up small food items, extends well beyond the edge of the nose. The long proboscis continually twitches in a hesitant, circular motion. It is used as a tool and sense organ. The nostrils are located on the forward end of the snout while long sensory whiskers arise from its base. (African Wildlife Foundation, 2005; Dorst and Dandelot, 1970; Grzimek et al., 2003; Macdonald, 2001; Rathbun, 1979; Rathbun, 2005)

General traits for the order Macroscelidea include a relatively long digestive tract with a caecum and several distinctive features of the reproductive tract. Male macroscelids have larger canine teeth than females. (African Wildlife Foundation, 2005; Dorst and Dandelot, 1970; Grzimek et al., 2003; Macdonald, 2001; Rathbun, 1979; Rathbun, 2005)

Nothing is known about the lifespan of checkered elephant shrews lifespan. In general, members of the genus Rhynchocyon live to about four of five years old. (African Wildlife Foundation, 2005; Grzimek et al., 2003)

Checkered elephant shrews live in pairs or in small groups within a common territory of several acres. Although an adult pair shares the same territory, the members of a pair defend it individually. Females protect their territory by forcing intruding females to leave while males evict strange males. Elephant shrews communicate the status of group members vocally. When alarmed by predators and other factors, they tail-rap the ground or foot drum to alert other group members. (African Wildlife Foundation, 2005; Ansell and Dowsett, 1988; Bere, 1962; Grzimek et al., 2003; Rathbun, 2005)

The long limbs of elephant shrews are adapted for cursorial locomotion. Checkered elephant shrews are mostly active during the day but sometimes exhibit nocturnal behavior. During the night they rest in nests constructed from a shallow depression and leaves. They do not burrow nor do they climb.

Home Range

Home ranges are believed to encompass several acres.

Checkered elephant shrews use visual perception in territorial encounters but also use scent signals to communicate. The scent gland is located just behind the anus and is used to mark territories. When foraging with other checkered elephant shrews, they make continuous squeals and squeaks to maintain group unity. When checkered elephant shrews are alarmed they slap their tail on the ground or tail-rap. (African Wildlife Foundation, 2005; Grzimek et al., 2003; Macdonald, 2001)

Checkered elephant shrews are invertivores. They eat invertebrates such as ants, termites, centipedes, earthworms, and beetles and their larvae. They also will eat small mammals, amphibians, mollusks, birds, and bird eggs. (African Wildlife Foundation, 2005; Grzimek et al., 2003; Macdonald, 2001)

Snakes and birds of prey are the primary predators of checkered elephant shrews. Checkered elephant shrews are eaten in certain areas of eastern Africa by humans. They are cryptically colored and help to warn each other about the presence of predators through vocal signals. (African Wildlife Foundation, 2005)

Checkered elephant shrews are insectivores and impact insect communities through predation.

There are no known negative impacts of checkered elephant shrews on humans.

Some people from East Africa use elephant shrews as a source of food. (African Wildlife Foundation, 2005; Rathbun, 2005)

The IUCN places R. cirnei in the vulnerable threat category. Not enough research has been done to determine its true conservation status.

Other common names for R. cirnei are giant elephant shrews and giant sengis. (Grzimek et al., 2003)