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The four-toed elephant shrew or four-toed sengi is the only living species in the genus Petrodromus, which together with three other extant genera Rhynchocyon, Macroscelides and Elephantulus constitutes the order Macroscelidea. This species is only found in particular regions in Africa and is smaller in size compared to its relatives. A comprehensive recording of this species is lacking. As their name suggests, they have four toes on their hind feet and like other elephant shrews, it has been named for it's elephant-like, mobile trunk.

=Geographic Location and Habitat=

The four-toed elephant shrew is located in Central and Southern East Africa, notably in Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and possibly Namibia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, montane forests, and moist savannas lowland forests. Throughout these countries, they are the second most widespread species, following the short-snouted elephant shrew.

Specifically, they thrive in dense forestry (notably in dense evergreen growths), woodlands and thickets, where there is suitable cover and protection, as well as invertebrates for food. In these areas, they are the second most common species. During the night, they prefer to sleep under dense brush (as opposed to a nest).

In some areas, their habitats are being destroyed and the four-toed elephant shrew is being hunted, but their conservation status is of least concern.

=Physical Characteristics= A four-toed elephant shrew has long, soft fur and its color varies from greyish pale brown to dark brown with white rings around its eyes, and wide dark stripes on its back. Markings of the four-toed elephant shrew vary in colour: the upper part of the feet of the four-toed elephant shrews is brownish yellow; its ears are dark brown, with pure white hair on the base of the inner margin; the tail is black on the upper side and pale yellow-brown on the underside, darkening in the middle and almost black at tip. The four-toed elephant shrew has a long, pointed snout that is flexible and sensitive, which it uses to hunt. It also has short forelimbs and long back limbs and legs.

The differences between the regular elephant shrew and the four-toed elephant shrew can be seen in facial features, body length and weight. Compared to the regular elephant shrew which has small eyes and ears, a four-toed elephant shrew has broad, upstanding ears and large eyes. The elephant shrew generally varies in size from about 10 to 30 centimeters (3.9 - 11.8 inches). However, the body length of the four-toed elephant shrew is less variable, lying between 19 to 23 centimeters (7.5 - 9 inches). Similarily, the tail length of the regular elephant shrew is 8 to 26.5 centimeters (3.2 - 10.4 inches) while the tail length of the four-toed elephant shrew is 15.5 and 17 centimeters (6 - 6.7 inches).

The elephant shrew is a small mammal weighing from 45 to 540 g (1.6 - 18.9 ounces), while the four-toed elephant shrew is one of largest elephant shrews, weighing between 160 and 280 g (5.6 - 9.9 ounces).

=Behaviour=

The four-toed elephant shrew is mostly active during the day and early evening, whereas during the night or midday, they tend to be less active. When the four-toed elephant shrew runs, their tail points upwards and also makes a noise through their hind feet. Ants react towards this sound which helps the four-toed elephant shrews to locate their prey. The four-toed elephant shrew is always alert. When the four-toed elephant shrew fights, they fight in pairs of the same gender, usually females against females and males against males. They fight in a "boxing" motion, supporting themselves on their rear legs and boxing with their front limbs to tackle one another. Four-toed elephant shrews have a good sense of sight, smell and hearing, but their their vocal capacity is not well developed. When they are in captivity, they make different kinds of sounds, such as screaming, purring or clucking for help.

=Feeding Ecology and Diet=

Four-toed elephant shrews are heavily dependent on rich leaf litter composition for their food and nest. The main diet of four-toed elephant shrews are small invertebrates. Ants and termites are their most common prey, but they have been known to feed on crickets, grasshoppers, spiders, centipedes, millipedes, and earthworms. They also feed on seeds, fruits, buds, and other plant material. Four-toed elephant shrews eat much like anteaters; they flick small foods into their mouths. Based on where these four-toed elephant shrews live, their main diet can vary. In Kenya, their diet varies on termites, plant matter, centipedes, ants, crickets and cockroaches, millipedes, spiders, and other similar creatures.

Some of the predators of the four-toed shrews are snakes, raptors, and carnivores, and in some cases, domestic cats.

=Reproductive Biology=

Depending on the quality of the habitat, four-toed elephant shrews breed throughout the year, showing an increase in reproduction when more feeding grounds are accessible. The lowland forests and savannas offer shelter from the midday heat and a resting place, as well as a suitable birth place. Copulation amongst the four-toed elephant shrews typically occurs on land and unlike other mammals, they are monogamists (see monogamy) in nature. Their mating patterns involve sexual intercourse over several days, afterwhich each mate returns to their singular lifestyle. The females in this species experience a period of gestation anywhere between 40-60 days and give birth to 1-2 offspring. The young are born in a highly developed state and are weaned by their mothers for approximately 15-25 days, reaching full sexual maturity close to 50 days after birth.

=References=