Elephant shrews

Elephant shrews are small insectivorous mammals native to Africa. They are also called jumping shrews or sengis. Elephant shrews are one of the fastest small mammals, being able to reach speeds of 28.8 kilometers per hour (17.9 mph). Compared to other mammalian insectivores, these little creatures have relatively large brains. Although mostly diurnal and very active, they are difficult to trap and very seldom seen; elephant shrews are wary, well camouflaged, and adept at dashing away from threats. They mainly eat insects, spiders, centipedes, millipedes, and earthworms. They use their nose to find prey and use their tongue to flick small food into their mouth, much like an anteater. Elephant shrews are not highly social animals and many live in monogamous pairs, which share and defend their home territory, marked using scent glands. Social behaviors are not very common and partners even have separate nests. Females give birth to one or two young; they are well developed at birth and are able to run within a few hours.