Macroscelididae Author Russell A. Mittermeier Author Don E. Wilson text 2018 2018-07-31 Lynx Edicions Barcelona Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 8 Insectivores, Sloths and Colugos 206 234 book chapter 73099 10.5281/zenodo.6646565 f1465af8-3198-4cb6-91a1-a547cbb4d955 978-84-16728-08-4 6646565 8. Etendeka Round-eared Sengi Macroscelides micus French: Sengi de I'Etendeka / German: Etendeka-Kurzohrriisselspringer / Spanish: Sengi de orejas redondas de Etendeka Other common names: Etendeka Round-eared Elephant-shrew Taxonomy. Macroscelides micus Dumbacher & Rathbun, 2014 , “ 20.7281°S , 14.1305°E at about 720 m above sea level ... about 10 km south by southwest (200°) of the Mikberg formation , Kunene District , [NW] Namibia .” This species is monotypic. Distribution. Etendeka Formation N & S of Huab River in NW Namibia. Descriptive notes. Head-body 85-100 mm, tail 82-97 mm, ear 17-28 mm, hindfoot 28-31 mm; weight 19-43 g. There is no evidence of sexual dimorphism in body size. The Etendeka Round-eared Sengi is round-bodied, with a round face. Tail length is ¢.95% of head-body length, short relative to other species of Macroscelides . Pinnae are broad, rounded, and shorter than on most species of Elephantulus . Snout is long, thin, and flexible. Hairis long, soft, and silky. Dorsal and lateral pelage is graybrown, with obvious rust-colored tinge, most prominent on face, rump, and tail. Hairs at distal end oftail are slightly longer and form rust colored tuft. Venteris off-white. Small but distinct patch of rust-colored fur occurs on each side of anus. Skin color of pinnae and limbs is pink, and hair on these areas is sparse. Prominent subcaudal gland, rust-colored fur, distinct perianal pattern, and pink skin of ears and limbs are diagnostic. There is no distinct eye-ring as occurs on many species of soft-furred sengis. Females have two anterior, two intermediate, and two posterior nipples; males have no nipples. Five digits are present on each manus and pes. Pectoral gland is absent, and subcaudal gland is highly developed. Dental formulais13/3,C1/1,P4/4,M 2/2 (x2) = 40. Molariform teeth are more hypsodont in species of Macroscelides than in other extant species of sengis. Canine sizes are subequal to adjacent teeth. Auditory bullae are hyper-inflated. Several bilateral pairs of palatal foramina are present. Karyotype is unknown. Habitat. LLow-gradient, rust-colored gravel slopes with scattered rocks and boulders and widely spaced perennial bunchgrasses, forbs, and few (if any) bushes taller than 30 cm at elevations of 340-860 m. Climate is hyper-arid with less than 20 mm of annual rainfall. The Etendeka Round-eared Sengi occurs in the Etendeka Formation between the coastal Namib Desert and the inland escarpment. Food and Feeding. Given habitat and biological similarities with other species of Macroscelides , the Etendeka Round-eared Sengi is almost certainly omnivorous, with insects comprising the greatest proportion of the diet. Breeding. The Etendeka Round-eared Sengi has small litters (probably 1-2) of highly precocial young. Breeding likely occurs year-round and perhaps with seasonal variability. Direct paternal investment is absent from all species of sengis that have been studied. No soft-furred sengis use nests to shelter or for rearing their young. Activity patterns. Etendeka Round-eared Sengis are fully terrestrial and strictly nocturnal. Individuals shelter separately during the day under a single rock with a horizontal crevice as an entrance. One shelter is used per night, and the same shelter is rarely reused. Etendeka Round-eared Sengis tend to choose shelters where entrances face prevailing midday sun, perhaps a thermoregulation strategy. Shelters are entered near dawn and are notaltered (e.g. by digging or collected bedding). Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Etendeka Round-eared Sengi is monogamous, and home ranges of male-female pairs overlap. Proportion of overlap probably depends on densities in suitable habitat. Average home range is conservatively estimated at c.7-2 ha. Foot drumming might be limited compared to other species of soft-furred sengis. There is no evidence thattrails are built or maintained. Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. Population trend of the Etendeka Round-eared Sengi is unknown. Bibliography. Corbet & Hanks (1968), Dumbacher, Rathbun, Osborne et al. (2014), Dumbacher, Rathbun, Smit & Eiseb (2012), Evans (1942), Olbricht & Stanley (2009), Rathbun (2009), Rathbun & Dumbacher (2015a, 2015b).