Rhynchocyon stuhlmanni (Matschie, 1893)

Russell A. Mittermeier & Don E. Wilson, 2018, Macroscelididae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 8 Insectivores, Sloths and Colugos, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 206-234 : 227-228

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.6646565

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6646627

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/038C87A8-FFA9-AC06-FADE-7687FE0A3258

treatment provided by

Valdenar

scientific name

Rhynchocyon stuhlmanni
status

 

3. View Plate 10: Macroscelididae

White-tailed Sengi

Rhynchocyon stuhlmanni

French: Sengi de Stuhlmann / German: Dunkles Risselhindchen / Spanish: Sengi de cola blanca

Other common names: White-tailed Elephant-shrew, Stuhlmann’s Elephant-shrew, Stuhlmann’s Sengi

Taxonomy. Rhynchocyon cirner stuhlmanni Matschie, 1893 ,

Andunde (Bundundi) Semliki River , west of Ruwenzori , Congo Belge (about 0°40’N 29°40’E, near the Semliki River, North-Kivu Province, DR Congo). GoogleMaps

Rhynchocyon stuhlmanni was formerly a subspecies of R. cirnei but elevated to full species by E. J. Carlen and others in 2017. Monotypic.

Distribution. N DR Congo and Uganda;

perhaps near Bangui, S Central African Republic. View Figure

Descriptive notes. Head-body 242-303 mm, tail 220-265 mm, ear 29-34 mm, hindfoot 81-91 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. Tail of the Whitetailed Sengi is ¢.90% of head-body length and is proximally thick and distally

tapered. Pelage color patterns are similar to the Chequered Sengi ( R. cirnei ), including checkered appearance of rump and back, but tail of the White-tailed Sengi is white from near base to tip. There is clinial color variation in the dorsal pelage: yellow-brown in western distribution of DR Congo, dark black-brown in eastern distribution of DR Congo, and gray-brown in Uganda. Compared with the Chequered Sengi, nasal bones are relatively short, with extension posterior to maxillae less than 13% of condylo-basal length. Relatively short nasals and all-white tail are diagnostic for the White-tailed Sengi. Snout is long and flexible. Females have two posterior, two intermediate, and no anterior nipples. Four digits are present on each manus and pes; pollex and hallux are absent. Fifth manual digit is relatively short and has only two phalanges. Post-anal gland is well developed, and pectoral gland is absent. Dental formula is 1 0-1/3, C 1/1, P 4/4, M 2/2 (x2) = 34-36. Upper canines are relatively large. Presence of diminutive upper incisor is variable. Palatal foramina are absent. Postorbital processes are present. Karyotype is unknown.

Habitat. Forests of the Congo River Basin (closed canopies and dense leaflitter always present). Distribution of the White-tailed Sengi is disjunct from all other species of Rhynchocyon .

Food and Feeding. Diet of the White-tailed Sengiis strictly composed of invertebrates, mostly arthropods.

Breeding. There is no information available for this species, but based on other species of Rhynchocyon , the White-tailed Sengi is probably monogamous and breeds yearround. Litters probably have 1-2 young.

Activity patterns. White-tailed Sengis are fully terrestrial and exclusively diurnal. Forest-floor nests are built from leaflitter.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. The White-tailed Sengi is presumably similar to the Golden-rumped Sengi ( R. chrysopygus ). Each member of a male—female pair probably spends most of its time independently.

Status and Conservation. Not assessed on The IUCN Red List. Before being elevated to full species rank in 2017, the White-tailed Sengi was considered a Chequered Sengi, which is classified as Least Concern.

Bibliography. Allen (1922), Carlen et al. (2017), Corbet & Hanks (1968), Evans (1942), Olbricht & Stanley (2009), Rathbun (2009, 2013e).

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Mammalia

Order

Macroscelidea

Family

Macroscelididae

Genus

Rhynchocyon

Loc

Rhynchocyon stuhlmanni

Russell A. Mittermeier & Don E. Wilson 2018
2018
Loc

Rhynchocyon cirner stuhlmanni

Matschie 1893
1893
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