Rock Elephant Shrews Research Articles

Seasonality of reproduction in male rock elephant shrews, Elephantulus myurus

Male rock elephant shrews, Elephantulus myurus, showed active spermatogenesis throughout the year but had significant reductions in testis and prostate size, the proportion of interstitial cells and sperm numbers and viability from April to June, when no pregnant females were recorded. Rock elephant shrews have relatively small testes and extragonadal sperm reserves compared to many similar–sized mammals

Food consumption, assimilation and rate of food passage in the cape rock elephant shrew, Elephantulus edwardii (macroscelidea: Macroscelidinae)

1. 1. Food consumption, assimilation and passage rates of an elephant shrew, Elephantulus edwardii, on three natural diets (cockroaches, locusts and termites) and one artificial cereal diet (Pronutro) were compared. 2. 2. Daily food consumption varies significantly between the diets and was partly related to % assimilation, which was highest on Pronutro and cockroaches (71%) and lowest on termites (31%). 3. 3. Throughput times were estimated using soluble ( 51 Cr-EDTA) and particulate markers in the Pronutro diet. First appearance of the soluble marker (0.5 hr) was significantly earlier than for the particulate marker (1.85 hr); 50% appeared at 3.2 and 3.35 hr for the soluble and particulate markers, respectively. 4. 4. The distribution of particulate markers in the digestive tract showed some retention in the stomach, ileum and colon, but rapid movement through the duodenum and very little entry to the caecum.

A note on the diet of the rock elephant shrew, Elephantulus myurus, in Zimbabwe

A note on the diet of the rock elephant shrew, <i>Elephantulus myurus</i>, in Zimbabwe

Ecology of the namtapGraphiurus ocularis(Rodentia:Gliridae) in the Cedarberg, South Africa

A small population of namtaps, Graphiurus ocularis, (Rodentia: Gliridae) was studied by mark and recapture methods in the Cedarberg Wilderness Area, for four spring-summer seasons and two winter seasons. Mean population size per breeding season in the 7,75 ha study site was seven adults. At least eight young are available each season for recruitment. As the adults live for four years or more, there are ample young available to replace adult losses. Namtaps eat mostly insects and other arthropods, but do take lizards and birds. They are sympatric with rock rats ifiethomys namaquensis) and elephant shrews (Elephantulus edwardll). Namtaps can climb vertical rock faces, while rock rats and elephant shrews move horizontally mainly at ground level. Namtaps may be trapped wherever suitable habitat is available and require no special protection by the authorities.