checkered elephant shrew

The checkered elephant shrew (Rhynchocyon cirnei) is a species of mammal native to East Africa. These rat-sized animals are named for their long, flexible snouts, resembling an elephant's trunk. Despite their resemblance to shrews, they belong to their own distinct order, Macroscelidea.1

Checkered elephant shrews are terrestrial and diurnal, meaning they are active during the day. They have large ears and eyes, and when threatened, they run swiftly on their toes, often using established paths. Their diet consists mainly of insects, such as ants and termites, along with other arthropods and earthworms, which they find by using their paws and snout to forage through leaf litter and soil.1

These shrews typically weigh about half a kilogram (1.1 pounds) and have a body length of 23 to 31 cm (9 to 12 inches), with a tail of similar length. Their fur is short, stiff, and glossy, with coloration that can vary from chestnut and buff patterns to dark red and black on the rump. They inhabit tropical forests in East Africa, building nests of dry leaves on the forest floor.1