Elephant Shrews facts
While investigating facts about Elephant Shrews Are Most Closely Related To and Elephant Shrews Habitat, I found out little known, but curios details like:
Elephant Shrews are closer related to elephants than to shrews
how many elephant shrews are left in the world?
Most mammals live for the same number of heartbeats before dying, from elephants to shrews.
What eats elephant shrews?
In my opinion, it is useful to put together a list of the most interesting details from trusted sources that I've come across answering what are elephant shrews related to. Here are 26 of the best facts about Elephant Shrews As Pets and Elephant Shrews Diet I managed to collect.
what do elephant shrews eat?
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The elephant shrew was named simply for it's long nose, but recent genetic evidence has found that it's more closely related to the elephant than it is to the shrew
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If an Elephant had the same Metabolic Rate as a Shrew it would quickly Overheat and Explode
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All female placental mammals menstruate, but only female humans, bats, elephant shrews and some primate species bleed, which is called overt menstruation. Other mammals completely reabsorb the endometrium in what is known as covert or 'true' menstruation.
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Other than humans, menstruation only occurs in females of certain species of apes, but also in bats and the elephant shrew.
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Elephant shrew can reach 4 to 12 inches in length and 2 to 18 ounces of weight.
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Cleared areas on the ground also serve as exit routes in the case of danger. When it is confronted with predators, elephant shrew often bangs the ground with its legs and tail.
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Elephant shrew hunts and eats insects (such as ants and termites), worms, grubs and spiders using its long tongue.
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Elephant shrew creates series of tiny paths on the ground and waits until prey appears. It uses excellent sense of hearing, smell and eyesight to detect both food and predators.
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Elephant shrew has an average lifespan of 2 to 4 years.
Why are elephant shrews endangered?
You can easily fact check why are they called elephant shrews by examining the linked well-known sources.
Females have menstrual cycle that resembles the menstrual cycle of a woman. They produce several litters per year.
Elephant shrew is terrestrial creature (it spends its entire life on the solid ground).
Elephant shrew has elongated, pointed head, very long, trunk-like nose (hence the name "elephant shrew"), large ears and eyes, long hind legs and long, scaly tail.
All mammals experience REM sleep. Studies have observed signs of dreaming in all mammals studied, including monkeys, dogs, cats, rats, elephants, and shrews.
Pregnancy lasts 45 to 60 days and ends with 1 or 2 babies which spend first few days in the nest. Mashed insects are introduced at the age of 5 days (while babies are still on a milk-based diet). Young elephant shrews become ready to seek food on their own at the age of 15 days and to reproduce at the age of 41 to 46 days.
When was the elephant shrew discovered?
Elephant shrew has fuzzy fur that can be white, yellowish-brown, grey, brown or black, depending on the species.
How do elephant shrews survive?
Elephant shrew is active during the day (diurnal animal).
Elephant shrew can jump like a rabbit, up to 3 feet into the air, which is why it is also known as "jumping shrew".
Elephant shrews are more closely related to elephants than rodents
Natural enemies of elephant shrews are snakes, lizards and birds of prey.
Elephant shrews live in pairs (that mate for a lifetime). They occupy territory of few acres, but spend most of the time alone (they gather only to mate).
