No full-text available
To read the full-text of this research,
you can request a copy directly from the author.
Notes on the Ecology, Capture and Behaviour in Captivity of the Elephant Shrew Nasilio Brachyrhynchus Brachyrhynchus (A. Smith)
... In Tanzania, a habitat preference for transitional Combretum savannah has been shown by this species (Leirs et al. 1995) and, in Zimbabwe, areas with dense grass cover and scattered woodland such as miombo are preferred (Linzey & Kesner 1997, Neal 1995, Smithers et al. 2005. This indicates that cover and vegetative structure are important habitat requirements for the species (Rankin 1965). ...
... However, with an increase in tree and shrub density, the habitat will become more suitable for the species. Similar habitat preferences have also been noted by other authors (Leirs et al. 1995, Linzey & Kesner 1997, Rankin 1965. Throughout their geographic range, therefore, short-snouted sengis appear to prefer habitats that have dense grassland with scrub and scattered trees (Smithers et al. 2005). ...
... Both Neal and Leirs found evidence for reproduction throughout the rest of the year, but at lower levels. The one birth event recorded in this study confirmed that E. brachyrhynchus produces one or two precocial young, weighing about 8-9 g, which is in accordance with other studies (Leirs et al. 1995, Neal 1995, Rankin 1965. In this study there was little evidence for reproduction in the cool dry season and it is possible that more southerly populations of E. brachyrhynchus have a more seasonal breeding pattern than populations at lower latitudes where temperature fluctuations are much smaller (Neal 1995). ...
... Although Van der Horst (1946) maintained some E. myurus in captivity on a diet of meat, a mixed diet consisting principally of live insects, as used by Walker (1955) and Rankin (1965), was considered to be more suitable. ...
... It has already been noted that new-born elephant-shrews are fully furred and have their eyes open (Walker, 1955;Hoesch, 1959;Rankin, 1965). This condition is known as 'precocial' and is generally found in those mammals that do not build nests. ...
... It is also possible that the solid food provided for the mothers was not suitable for the young in the early stages of weaning. Rankin (1965) attributed the early death of her young elephant-shrews to this cause. Spontaneous abortions were observed in both E. myurus and E. intufi on a total of 4 occasions, although other instances may have gone undetected. ...
The capture, transport and laboratory maintenance of 3 species of elephant-shrew are described. These animals were kept in order to study their reproductive biology. Pregnant specimens of Elephantulus myurus gave birth in captivity, but captive breeding occurred only in the species E. intufi and Petrodromus tetradactylus. A 4th species (E. rozeti) was kept for a short period without the occurrence of breeding. Some observations on the development of the young are presented.
... For example, elephant shrews (Elephantulus rufescens) restrict much of their travel to a network of trails from which they regularly remove plant material and other obstacles. It has been suggested that their rapid running along these trails is an effective anti-predatory strategy (Rankin, 1965;Rathbun, 1979). In larger animals, trails have been studied primarily in elephants (Loxodonta africana) (Vanleeuwe and Gautier-Hion, 1998;Mutinda et al., 2011) and mentioned in a few other studies (Di Fiore and Suarez, 2007;Noyce and Garshelis, 2014;Trapanese et al., 2019). ...
Cognition, defined as the processes concerned with the acquisition, retention and use of information, underlies animals’ abilities to navigate their local surroundings, embark on long-distance seasonal migrations, and socially learn information relevant to movement. Hence, in order to fully understand and predict animal movement, researchers must know the cognitive mechanisms that generate such movement. Work on a few model systems indicates that most animals possess excellent spatial learning and memory abilities, meaning that they can acquire and later recall information about distances and directions among relevant objects. Similarly, field work on several species has revealed some of the mechanisms that enable them to navigate over distances of up to several thousand kilometers. Key behaviors related to movement such as the choice of nest location, home range location and migration route are often affected by parents and other conspecifics. In some species, such social influence leads to the formation of aggregations, which in turn may lead to further social learning about food locations or other resources. Throughout the review, we note a variety of topics at the interface of cognition and movement that invite further investigation. These include the use of social information embedded in trails, the likely important roles of soundscapes and smellscapes, the mechanisms that large mammals rely on for long-distance migration, and the effects of expertise acquired over extended periods.
... Various trapping methods have been used in the past in an attempt to capture elephant shrews alive. These methods included the use of bowstring snares (Brown 1964), long Table 2 Trapping statistics of small mammals captured at various localities in the 2926Aa quarter grid during the period February 1989 to May 1990 (See Table 1 nets and beaters (Van der Horst 1946;Brown 1964;Rankin 1965;Tripp 1972;Rathbun 1978Rathbun , 1979, drop traps (Rath bun 1979; Rathbun, Beaman & Maliniak 1981) and Sher man live traps (Tripp 1972;Neal 1982;Woodall & Mackie 1987;Woodall & Currie 1989). Various types of bait have also been used. ...
Species composition of prey consumed by spotted hyaenas Crocuta crocuta in three divergent areas in southern Africa was determined by scat analyses. The larger abundant antelopes predominated in the diet and their occurrence in the diet was apparently directly related to the availability of the prey within the hyaena foraging areas. In Mkuzi' Game Reserve and the Namib Naukluft National Park, hyaenas coexist with only one other large predator. In Umfolozi Game Reserve, where hyaenas coexist with four other large predators, a greater variety of prey was taken. Scat weight in desert-dwelling hyaenas was twice that of those from more mesic areas, which may be an adaptation to restricted water intake. The incidence of domestic livestock in the diet was meagre, probably the result of collecting scats only from latrines within the game reserves. Die spesies-samestelling van prooi verbruik deur gevlekte hienas Crocuta crocuta in drie verskillende gebiede in Suidelike Afrika is bepaal deur faeces-analise. Die groter meer volop wildsbokke het die dieet gedomineer en die voorkoms in dieet toon 'n direkte verwantskap met beskik baarheid van prooi in hiena-jaggebiede. Hienas deel Mkuzi Wildtuin en die Namib Naukluft Nasionale Park met slegs een ander groot roofdier terwyl vier ander groot roofdiere Umfolozi Wildtuin met hienas deel, wat lei tot groter variasie in prooi-items. Faeces-massa van woestynlewende hienas ..,as twee keer meer as die van hienas in meer mesiese gebiede wat waarskynlik 'n aanpassing is vir beperkte water inname. Die voorkoms van plaasdiere in die dieet was baie laag, maar dit is heel waarskynlik as gevolg van faeces versameling slegs binne die wildtuine.
... Whilst their ecology has received some attention, no previous studies have investigated the effect of fire on any elephant shrew species. The most numerous and widely distributed species is the short-snouted elephant shrew (Elephantulus brachyrhynchus) (Corbet & Hanks 1968) which inhabits open woodland savanna habitats with dense ground cover and is thus susceptible to the impacts of fire (Rankin 1965;Neal 1995;Linzey & Kesner 1997;Skinner & Chimimba 2005;Leirs et al. 1995;Yarnell & Scott 2006). Consequently, there is a need to understand the effect of current management fire regimes to ensure future management and conservation of E. brachyrhynchus populations. ...
Several studies have investigated the response of small mammal populations to fire, but few have investigated behavioural responses to habitat modification. In this study we investigated the impact of fire on home range, habitat use and activity patterns of the short-snouted elephant shrew (Elephantulus brachyrhynchus) by radio-tracking individuals before and after a fire event. All animals survived the passage of fire in termite mound refugia. Before the fire, grassland was used more than thickets, but habitat utilization shifted to thickets after fire had removed the grass cover. Thickets were an important refuge both pre- and post-fire, but the proportion of thicket within the home range was greater post-fire. We conclude that fire-induced habitat modification resulted in a restriction of E. brachyrhynchus movements to patches of unburned vegetation. This may be a behavioural response to an increase in predation pressure associated with a reduction in cover, rather than a lack of food. This study highlights the importance of considering the landscape mosaic in fire management and allowing sufficient island patches to remain post-fire ensures the persistence of the small mammal fauna.
ResearchGate has not been able to resolve any references for this publication.