Search for Lost Species > Most Wanted > Somali Sengi
Somali Sengi
SCIENTIFIC NAME: ELEPHANTULUS REVOILII
LAST SEEN: BEFORE 1968 IN SOMALIA
YEARS LOST: AT LEAST 51
DATA DEFICIENT
The Somali Sengi is among the least well-known of the 19 species of sengis, or elephant-shrews, which are restricted to Africa. It occurs in a remote and arid area of northern Somalia and Somaliland. Sengi are very swift small mammals that don’t belong to the family of true shrew, but are in their own family that is more closely related to elephants than shrews. They have long noses (thus the elephant part of their name) that they use to probe for insect prey. They live in areas with high levels of biodiversity and a search for the Somali Sengi could also lead to the rediscovery or discovery of new species of other small mammals.
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Read more about the rediscovery of the Somali Sengi in northern Somalia and Somaliland.
Romantically Monogamous, Mouse-sized Elephant-Shrew Rediscovered
It dashes among boulders on hindlimbs built more for gazelles than small mammals. It mates for life, sharing a small territory with its chosen beau.
Seeking the Somali Sengi
For Houssein Rayaleh, research ecologist and conservationist at Association Djibouti Nature, there was no doubt that the Somali Sengi still existed.
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