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Giant new species of elephant shrew seen
Source: Agencies |
September 22, 2010, Wednesday
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RESEARCHERS may have discovered a previously unknown species of the giant elephant shrew - a small mammal with a nose like a trunk - in a Kenyan forest.
They said yesterday they captured images of the rat-sized animal on camera-traps in the Boni-Dodori forest along Kenya's northeastern coast while they were researching biodiversity.
"It is believed to be a new species of giant sengi, otherwise known as an elephant shrew (Macroscelidea)," the conservationists from the Zoological Society of London and Kenya Wildlife Services scientists said in a statement.
"Once DNA samples have been collected, we look forward to conducting the genetic analysis required to determine whether or not this is indeed a new species of elephant shrew," Galen Rathbun from the California Academy of Sciences said.
The animals are more closely related to elephants than shrews despite their size, and got their name because of their long, flexible, trunk-like nose.
Rathbun said the animals were captivating due to their ancient and often misunderstood ancestry, their monogamous mating, and their flexible snouts used to forage for food.
The academy's research scientists launch dozens of expeditions each year to document biodiversity around the world. "It is always exciting to describe a new species ... a necessary precursor for ensuring that the animals are protected," Rathbun said.
Forty years ago, forests covered 12 percent of Kenya, but now it is just 1.7 percent. Greed, irresponsibility and mismanagement of public resources have been blamed for the degradation.
They said yesterday they captured images of the rat-sized animal on camera-traps in the Boni-Dodori forest along Kenya's northeastern coast while they were researching biodiversity.
"It is believed to be a new species of giant sengi, otherwise known as an elephant shrew (Macroscelidea)," the conservationists from the Zoological Society of London and Kenya Wildlife Services scientists said in a statement.
"Once DNA samples have been collected, we look forward to conducting the genetic analysis required to determine whether or not this is indeed a new species of elephant shrew," Galen Rathbun from the California Academy of Sciences said.
The animals are more closely related to elephants than shrews despite their size, and got their name because of their long, flexible, trunk-like nose.
Rathbun said the animals were captivating due to their ancient and often misunderstood ancestry, their monogamous mating, and their flexible snouts used to forage for food.
The academy's research scientists launch dozens of expeditions each year to document biodiversity around the world. "It is always exciting to describe a new species ... a necessary precursor for ensuring that the animals are protected," Rathbun said.
Forty years ago, forests covered 12 percent of Kenya, but now it is just 1.7 percent. Greed, irresponsibility and mismanagement of public resources have been blamed for the degradation.
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