Cape elephant shrew

Cape elephant shrew
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Macroscelidea
Family: Macroscelididae
Genus: Elephantulus
Species:
E. edwardii
Binomial name
Elephantulus edwardii
(A. Smith, 1839)
Cape elephant shrew range
Synonyms
  • Elephantulus capensis Roberts, 1924
  • Elephantulus edwardsii (Sclater, 1901)
  • Elephantulus karoensis Roberts, 1938

The Cape elephant shrew (Elephantulus edwardii), also known as the Cape rock elephant-shrew or Cape rock sengi, is a species of elephant shrew in the family Macroscelididae. It is endemic to South Africa, although it is a relatively common animal. Its natural habitat is rocky areas. Elephant shrews are not closely related to other species of shrews and to rodents such as mice. E. edwardii has been observed to be a non-flying mammal pollinator of the pagoda lily (Massonia bifolia). Elephant shrews are floral pollinators due to their largely insectivorous diet. Elephant-shrews are pollinators of Hyobanche atropurpurea. It uses its long slender tongue to feed on the pagoda lily's nectar while getting the lily's pollen on its long nose. E. edwardii is also a pollinator of Protea sulphurea.

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