Grey-faced Sengi

Grey-faced Sengi
Conservation status
Vulnerable (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Macroscelidea
Family:	Macroscelididae
Genus:	Rhynchocyon
Species:	R. udzungwensis
Binomial name
Rhynchocyon udzungwensis F. Rovero and G. Rathbun, 2008
Grey-faced Sengi range

The Grey-faced Sengi (Rhynchocyon udzungwensis) is a species of elephant shrew that is endemic to the Udzungwa Mountains of south-central Tanzania. The discovery of the species was announced in January 2008; only fifteen species of elephant shrew were known until then, and the last discovery was made more than 120 years ago. As the name implies, the species is characterised by a distinctive grey face and a black rump, as well as being larger than the other species of elephant shrews.

Description

The fur of this sengi is sparse and glossy with a gray facial coloration and bright red pelage. A wide maroon stripe is noted along the back of the animal as well as jet black hindquarters with a light brown belly and tail. In comparison to the other sengis the Grey-faced Sengi is larger in proportion and the upper tooth row is longer. The mean length of this species is 56.4 centimetres (22.2 in) while the mean weight is 711 grams (25.1 oz). At 700 grams (1.5 lb), this species is about 25 percent larger than any other known sengi.

Taxonomy

The Grey-faced Sengi is a species of the elephant shrew or sengi family, belonging to the genus Rhynchocyon. Its discovery was announced in 2008. Until this species was discovered, only fifteen species of elephant shrew were known, with the last living species having been described more than a century ago (the Eastern Rock Elephant Shrew, Elephantulus myurus). The event therefore represents a rare discovery, not only for these animals, but for mammals in general. The creature was found living in a small community in the high-altitude Ndundulu Forest in Tanzania's Udzungwa Mountains, an isolated area of great biodiversity where a number of other new species have been discovered, including the Udzungwa Forest-partridge, a species of monkey called the Kipunji, and several species of amphibians and reptiles.

This new species was first seen when caught on film in 2005 by Francesco Rovero of the Museum of Natural Sciences in Trento, Italy, who set up camera traps and captured an unfamiliar elephant shrew. The results were sent to Galen Rathbun of the California Academy of Sciences. Rathbun, unable to identify the shrew went on a two-week expedition with Rovero in March 2006 to search for specimens of the shrew. During the expedition, the zoologists were surprised by rain, even though it was supposed to be the dry season. They then found that the animal was larger than they had expected, and that the traps they had brought would not contain it. Instead they had to use traditional twine snares. "This is one of the most exciting discoveries of my career," Rathbun said. "It is the first new species of giant elephant-shrew to be discovered in more than 126 years. From the moment I first lifted one of the animals into our photography tent, I knew it must be a new species not just because of its distinct coloring, but because it was so heavy!"

Rathbun, Rovero, and coauthors published their description of the species in an issue of the British Journal of Zoology. The new species was given the binomial name Rhynchocyon udzungwensis (meaning 'snouted dog from Udzungwa'), and the English name Grey-faced Sengi from its physical characteristics.

Habitat

The Grey-faced Sengi is endemic to the Udzungwa Mountains of south-central Tanzania. The sengi ranges from the forests of Ndundulu-Lauhomero to the Mwanihana forests. The Udzungwa Mountains are one part in a series of isolated mountain ranges stretching from southern Kenya to the south-central part of Tanzania. Due to the isolation of these mountains a wide range of biodiversity was developed. Many of the species found within these mountains cannot be found anywhere else in the world and is the only place where the Grey-faced Sengi is found. Only two populations are known, existing within an area covering around 300 square kilometres (120 sq mi) of forest. The natural habitat of this species falls within two nature reserves. The Udzungwa Ecological Monitoring Centre and the Udzungwa Mountains National Park. The habitat of the Grey-faced Sengi consists mostly of terrestrial system with moist, sub-montane and montane evergreen to upper montane closed-canopy forests, including bamboo thickets.^{[citation needed]}

Reproduction

Rhynchocyon udzungwensis is believed to have a population size of about 50–80 individuals and a 1:1 male to female ratio. The Sengi builds a nest out of leaves and soil with as many as 4 to 5 nests per tree and are believed to have 1–2 infants per birth. Not much is known about the reproductive morphology or the ecology of the Sengi because the species is newly discovered.^{[citation needed]}

Threats

The only major threat to the survival of the Grey-faced Sengi is human population expansion. Expanding human population in Africa, especially in Tanzania, will inevitably result in various pressures on the dwindling forests there and the species that live within that habitat.^{[citation needed]} An indirect threat that is most noticeable to the endangerment of the Sengi is human-set forest fires. This provides a major threat because of the Sengi depends on its forest habitat. With so few individuals within the population any form of habitat destruction can negatively affect the species greatly. Other theories to the endangerment of the species may be due to hunting by local tribes. This however cannot be proven and was not seen while Rathbun and Rovero visited Tanzania.^{[citation needed]}

Conservation efforts include local community outreach programs.^{[citation needed]} In order to save the species the public is informed of the importance of preserving the Sengi's natural habitat. This could cut down on native hunting or habitat destruction. The habitat also falls between two nature reserves which can allow the species to have extra protection from hunters and the ever expanding human population. Since the nature reserves do not allow hunting or destruction of the forest and animals the Grey-faced Sengi is almost guaranteed protection from the outside world. By providing accommodations and research resources to visiting scientists the Sengi may have a higher chance of survival. Deliver technical advice to the park's Ecology Department and the Forestry Division for implementing scientifically rigorous ecological monitoring. There are ways the parks are able to conserve species without concentrating on a specific species. By implement monitoring programs, organize training courses for rangers, scouts, park ecologists and university students, promote school education programs, network with other monitoring initiatives and biological field stations elsewhere in Tanzania and the tropics, in order to standardize monitoring protocols and exchanging data and information. Unfortunately no plan, as of yet, has been developed for the future protection or rehabilitation of the species.^{[citation needed]}

External links

• Video on BBC