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Galegeeska
''Galegeeska'' is a genus of elephant shrew (or sengi) in the family Macroscelididae. Members in this genus were formerly classified in the genus ''Elephantulus'', but later studies found the Somali and rufous sengis to be the sister taxa of the clade containing the genera '' Petrodromus'' and '' Petrosaltator''; due to this, the genus ''Galegeeska'' was coined for the Somali and later the rufous sengi''.'' The split with the ''Petrodromus''-''Petrosaltator'' clade is estimated to have occurred about 20.6 million years ago. ''Galegeeska'' translates to "weasel of the horn". In the Somali language, means corner or horn, as in the Horn of Africa. in Ancient Greek means weasel, and has been used in other small mammal taxa. 'Gale' also honours one of the authors, Galen B. Rathbun (1944-2019) who searched for the Somali sengi and devoted several decades of research into sengi biology. It contains two species; * Somali elephant shrew The Somali elephant shrew or Somali seng ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rufous Elephant Shrew
The rufous elephant shrew, rufous sengi or East African long-eared elephant-shrew (''Galegeeska rufescens'') is a species of elephant shrew in the family Macroscelididae. Found in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda, its natural habitats are dry savanna and subtropical or tropical dry shrubland. Taxonomy Previous classified in the genus ''Elephantulus'', a 2021 study found it to belong to the genus ''Galegeeska'', which had been coined the previous year as a monotypic genus containing the then-rediscovered Somali elephant shrew (''G. revoilii''). The American Society of Mammalogists has accepted these results. Distribution ''Galegeeska rufescens'' occupies the drywood land and grassland zone of East Africa. Characteristics ''Galegeeska rufescens'' exhibits no sexual dimorphism. The proboscis is long and flexible. The species' tails are dark-brown and can be long up to its head-to-tail length. Both adults and juveniles are similar in color. The dorsal f ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Somali Elephant Shrew
The Somali elephant shrew or Somali sengi (''Galegeeska revoilii'') is a species of elephant shrew in the family Macroscelididae. Habitat Its natural habitat is arid and semiarid desert with rocky substrates and sparse shrubs. In some parts of Somalia, the Somali sengi and rufous sengi (''G. rufescens'') may be locally sympatric. It is found in the northern Horn of Africa; it was formerly thought to be exclusively endemic to Somalia, but a 2020 sighting also indicates they are found in Djibouti and potentially Ethiopia. Classification It was formerly classified in the genus ''Elephantulus'', but a 2020 study found it to be the sister taxon In phylogenetics, a sister group or sister taxon, also called an adelphotaxon, comprises the closest relative(s) of another given unit in an evolutionary tree. Definition The expression is most easily illustrated by a cladogram: Taxon A and ... of the clade containing the genera '' Petrodromus'' and '' Petrosaltator''; and the genu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Elephant Shrew
Elephant shrews, also called jumping shrews or sengis, are small insectivorous mammals native to Africa, belonging to the family Macroscelididae, in the order Macroscelidea. Their traditional common English name "elephant shrew" comes from a perceived resemblance between their long noses and the trunk of an elephant, and their superficial similarity with shrews (family Soricidae) in the order Eulipotyphla. However, phylogenetic analysis has revealed that elephant shrews are not properly classified with true shrews, but are in fact more closely related to elephants than to shrews. In 1997, the biologist Jonathan Kingdon proposed that they instead be called "sengis" (singular ''sengi''), a term derived from the Bantu languages of Africa, and in 1998, they were classified into the new clade Afrotheria. They are widely distributed across the southern part of Africa, and although common nowhere, can be found in almost any type of habitat, from the Namib Desert to boulder-strewn ou ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sengi
Elephant shrews, also called jumping shrews or sengis, are small insectivorous mammals native to Africa, belonging to the family Macroscelididae, in the order Macroscelidea. Their traditional common English name "elephant shrew" comes from a perceived resemblance between their long noses and the trunk of an elephant, and their superficial similarity with shrews (family Soricidae) in the order Eulipotyphla. However, phylogenetic analysis has revealed that elephant shrews are not properly classified with true shrews, but are in fact more closely related to elephants than to shrews. In 1997, the biologist Jonathan Kingdon proposed that they instead be called "sengis" (singular ''sengi''), a term derived from the Bantu languages of Africa, and in 1998, they were classified into the new clade Afrotheria. They are widely distributed across the southern part of Africa, and although common nowhere, can be found in almost any type of habitat, from the Namib Desert to boulder-strewn ou ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Elephant Shrew
Elephant shrews, also called jumping shrews or sengis, are small insectivorous mammals native to Africa, belonging to the family Macroscelididae, in the order Macroscelidea. Their traditional common English name "elephant shrew" comes from a perceived resemblance between their long noses and the trunk of an elephant, and their superficial similarity with shrews (family Soricidae) in the order Eulipotyphla. However, phylogenetic analysis has revealed that elephant shrews are not properly classified with true shrews, but are in fact more closely related to elephants than to shrews. In 1997, the biologist Jonathan Kingdon proposed that they instead be called "sengis" (singular ''sengi''), a term derived from the Bantu languages of Africa, and in 1998, they were classified into the new clade Afrotheria. They are widely distributed across the southern part of Africa, and although common nowhere, can be found in almost any type of habitat, from the Namib Desert to boulder-strewn ou ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Elephant Shrews
Elephant shrews, also called jumping shrews or sengis, are small insectivorous mammals native to Africa, belonging to the family Macroscelididae, in the order Macroscelidea. Their traditional common English name "elephant shrew" comes from a perceived resemblance between their long noses and the trunk of an elephant, and their superficial similarity with shrews (family Soricidae) in the order Eulipotyphla. However, phylogenetic analysis has revealed that elephant shrews are not properly classified with true shrews, but are in fact more closely related to elephants than to shrews. In 1997, the biologist Jonathan Kingdon proposed that they instead be called "sengis" (singular ''sengi''), a term derived from the Bantu languages of Africa, and in 1998, they were classified into the new clade Afrotheria. They are widely distributed across the southern part of Africa, and although common nowhere, can be found in almost any type of habitat, from the Namib Desert to boulder-strewn ou ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Four-toed Elephant Shrew
The four-toed elephant shrew or four-toed sengi (''Petrodromus tetradactylus'') is the only living species in the genus ''Petrodromus'', which together with five other extant genera ''Rhynchocyon'', '' Macroscelides'', '' Petrosaltator'', '' Galegeeska'' and ''Elephantulus'' constitutes the order Macroscelidea. This species is only found in particular regions in Africa and is smaller than its relatives. A comprehensive record of this species is lacking. As its name suggests, the species has four toes on its hind feet, and like other elephant shrews, it has been named for its elephant-like, mobile proboscis. Geographic location and habitat The four-toed elephant shrew is located in Central and Southern East Africa, notably in Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and possibly Namibia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, montane forests, and moist savannas. Throughout these countri ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Elephantulus
''Elephantulus'' is a genus of elephant shrew in the family Macroscelididae. It contains the following species: * Short-snouted elephant shrew (''E. brachyrhynchus'') * Cape elephant shrew (''E. edwardii'') * Dusky-footed elephant shrew (''E. fuscipes'') * Dusky elephant shrew The dusky elephant shrew or dusky sengi (''Elephantulus fuscus'') is a species of elephant shrew in the family Macroscelididae. It is found in Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia. Its natural habitat is dry savanna A savanna or savannah is a mix ... (''E. fuscus'') * Bushveld elephant shrew (''E. intufi'') * Eastern rock elephant shrew (''E. myurus'') * Karoo rock elephant shrew (''E. pilicaudus'') * Western rock elephant shrew (''E. rupestris'') References * Smit, H.A., Robinson, T.J., Watson, J. & Jansen van Vuunen, B. (2008). A New Species of Elephant-shrew (Afrotheria: Macroscelidea: ''Elephantulus'') from South Africa. Journal of Mammalogy 89 (5): 1257–1268. Elephant shrews Mammal ge ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sister Group
In phylogenetics, a sister group or sister taxon, also called an adelphotaxon, comprises the closest relative(s) of another given unit in an evolutionary tree. Definition The expression is most easily illustrated by a cladogram: Taxon A and taxon B are sister groups to each other. Taxa A and B, together with any other extant or extinct descendants of their most recent common ancestor (MRCA), form a monophyletic group, the clade AB. Clade AB and taxon C are also sister groups. Taxa A, B, and C, together with all other descendants of their MRCA form the clade ABC. The whole clade ABC is itself a subtree of a larger tree which offers yet more sister group relationships, both among the leaves and among larger, more deeply rooted clades. The tree structure shown connects through its root to the rest of the universal tree of life. In cladistic standards, taxa A, B, and C may represent specimens, species, genera, or any other taxonomic units. If A and B are at the same taxonomic ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
North African Elephant Shrew
The North African elephant shrew (''Petrosaltator rozeti'') or North African sengi is a species of elephant shrew in the family Macroscelididae. It is found in Algeria, Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia, and (since the extinction of the North African elephant) is the only extant afrotherian within its range. The species was formerly classified in the genus ''Elephantulus'', but molecular evidence indicates that it is more closely related to '' Petrodromus'' than to other members of ''Elephantulus''. It was moved to a new genus, ''Petrosaltator'', in 2016. The split with ''Petrodromus'' likely occurred during the Miocene period. Description The North African elephant-shrew is a little rodent-like in appearance, having a small body, large ears, and a long tail. It weighs around , which is very light compared to other sengis). The total length is from , of which the tail is . The fur on the upper body varies from yellowish brown to pale sandy-pink, and the fur on the underside is white. It ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family (taxonomy), family. In binomial nomenclature, the genus name forms the first part of the binomial species name for each species within the genus. :E.g. ''Panthera leo'' (lion) and ''Panthera onca'' (jaguar) are two species within the genus ''Panthera''. ''Panthera'' is a genus within the family Felidae. The composition of a genus is determined by taxonomy (biology), taxonomists. The standards for genus classification are not strictly codified, so different authorities often produce different classifications for genera. There are some general practices used, however, including the idea that a newly defined genus should fulfill these three criteria to be descriptively useful: # monophyly – all descendants ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Somali Language
Somali (Latin script: ; Wadaad writing, Wadaad: ; Osmanya: 𐒖𐒍 𐒈𐒝𐒑𐒛𐒐𐒘 ) is an Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language belonging to the Cushitic languages, Cushitic branch. It is spoken as a mother tongue by Somalis in Greater Somalia and the Somali diaspora. Somali is an official language in Somalia and Ethiopia, and a national language in Djibouti as well as in northeastern Kenya. The Somali language is written officially with the Somali Latin alphabet, Latin alphabet although the Arabic alphabet and several Somali scripts like Osmanya script, Osmanya, Kaddare script, Kaddare and the Gadabuursi Somali Script, Borama script are informally used.Lewis, I.M. (1958)The Gadabuursi Somali Script ''Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies'', University of London, Vol. 21, pp. 134–156. Classification Somali is classified within the Cushitic branch of the Afroasiatic family, specifically, Lowland East Cushitic languages, Lowland East Cushitic in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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