Round-eared Sengi - Macroscelides proboscideus

Scientifically named Macroscelides proboscideus (Macroscelidea - Macroscelididae), this cute animal is commonly referred to as Round-eared Sengi, and Round-eared Elephant-Shrew. It only lives in desert and semi-desert areas of Namibia, southern Botswana, and South Africa.

The sengis or elephant-shrews (order Macroscelidea) are small mammals characterized by long slender tails, long slender legs, and a long, narrow, semi-flexible snout from which the name derives. They are a monophyletic clade restricted to Africa with distant phylogenetic affinities to elephants, sea cows, hyraxes, aardvarks, golden moles, and tenrecs, which collectively belong to the super cohort Afrotheria. 

A monophyletic clade is a group of organisms with a common ancestral species that are typically characterized by shared derived characteristics or synapomorphies.

References: [1] - [2] - [3] - [4]

Rufous elephant-shrew (Elephantulus rufescens)

Chequered elephant-shrew (Rhynchocyon cirnei)

Short-eared elephant shrew (Macroscelides proboscideus)

North African elephant-shrew (Elephantulus rozeti)

Four-toed elephant shrew (Petrodamus tetradactylus)

Black and rufous elephant-shrew (Rhynchocyon petersi)

SHORT-EARED ELEPHANT SHREW (Macroscelides proboscideus)

©StefanKoeder

The Smithsonian’s National Zoo recently welcomed a short-eared elephant shrew to its Small Mammal House. The adult critter, which came from the Philadelphia Zoo, weighs only 1.5 ounces or so and has a little snout reminiscent of an elephant’s trunk. The likeness does not end there though. In fact, the 17 living species of elephant shrew are more closely related to elephants than shrews. Who knew? More

Fact Source: http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/aroundthemall/2011/05/a-new-shrew-at-the-zoo/

Other photos you may like:

Short-eared Elephant Shrew (side view)

Black and Rufous Elephant Shrew