Dave Taylor's African Safari: Trophic Level III: Omnivores and Small Carnivores - Mammals - Elephant Shrew

Trophic Level III: Omnivores and Small Carnivores
Mammals - Elephant Shrew
Page 35

This next section deals the Serengeti-Mara ecosystems small carnivores and insectivores.. Most consume a large amount of plant material as part of their diet an so could be considered to be omnivores. Larger predators such as lions, leopards and even some of the birds of prey take them as food.

Rhychocyoninae spp.

Length: 235-315 mm (9.25-12.4")

Tail: 190-253 mm (7-10")

Weight: 408-440g (.8-1.7 lb.)

Status: Not endangered

Habitat: Elephant shrews are found in forests and at low, medium and high altitudes. Some species enter the grasslands during the wet seasons. They like moderate to well-drained soils with abundant leaf litter in order to make their meter (yard) wide shelters. Leaves are piled in shallow scrapes in the soil, forming a night-nest. Each animal will make up to ten of these in its territory.

Food: Elephant shrews feed on insect larvae, termites, ants, beetles, spiders and earthworms along with other invertebrates. They noisily turn over leaves and forest litter as they hunt their prey.

Social System: Elephant shrew territories average 1.6 hectares (4 acres) in size. The territory is defended by each sex against members of their own sex. A male’s territory will encompass that of several females’. All feeding and sleeping is done alone.

Behavior: Females give birth in one of their night-nests. She gives birth after a gestation period of 45 days. Each litter consists of one baby. She may have four or five litters a year. The young stay in the leaf litter nest for two weeks and then, a few days after emerging, they depart. Giant elephant shrews live four or five years.

Predators: Large birds of prey and snakes are the main predators.

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