Petrosaltator rozeti (Duvernoy, 1833)

Russell A. Mittermeier & Don E. Wilson, 2018, Macroscelididae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 8 Insectivores, Sloths and Colugos, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 206-234 : 230-231

10.

North African Sengi

Petrosaltator rozeti

French: Sengi de Rozet / German: Nordafrikanischer Risselspringer / Spanish: Sengi norteafricano

Other common names: North African Elephant-shrew

Taxonomy. Macrocelides [sic] rozeti Duvernoy, 1833 ,

“ Africa septentrionali , prope Alger [= northern Africa, near Oran, Algeria].”

Two subspecies are recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

P.r.rozetiDuvernoy,1833—coastalsideofAtlasRangeinMorocco,Algeria,andTunisia;WesternSaharaandWLibyaspecimensmightbethissubspecies.

P.r. desert: Thomas, 1901 — inland side of

Atlas Range, but not into the desert in Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 100-120 mm, tail 105-137 mm, ear 21-27 mm, hindfoot 30-34 mm; weight c¢.40-55 g. Snout of the North African Sengi is long, thin, and flexible. Tail is relatively long at ¢.110% of head-body length, hairy, and darker above than below; and has a small tuft. Fur is long (up to 14 mm), soft, and silky. Dorsum is brown-yellow to brown-gray-buff. In general, nominate subspecies rozeti is darker than subspecies desert. Lateral pelage is paler than dorsum, and venter is pale graywhite. Eye-ring is absent. Five digits are present on each manus and pes. Interdigital pads are very rugose. Pectoral gland is absent, but subcaudal gland is present and well developed. Females and males have two anterior, two intermediate, and two posterior nipples; male nipples are present butsize is reduced. Dental formula is 13/3, C 1/1, P 4/4, M 2/2 (x2) = 40. On average, upper tooth row is longer in nominate rozeti (17-0-18-8 mm) than itis in deserti (16-5-17-6 mm). Canine sizes are subequal to adjacent teeth. Several bilateral pairs of palatal foramina are present. Postorbital processes are absent. Karyotype is 2n = 28.

Habitat. Semiarid coastal or inland side of Atlas Range from near sea level along the Mediterranean coast up to 2700 m. Distribution of the North African Sengi does not extend into desert and sand dunes are avoided. Substrates preferred include boulders to scree; vegetation can be sparse, but habitats are sometimes adjacent to scrublands or grasslands.

Food and Feeding. Arthropods are the principal diet of the North African Sengi and are supplemented with limited plant material. One study found that pavement ants (Tetramorium), African harvester termites (Hodotermes), and woodlice (Oniscoidea) were the most frequently eaten taxa and ¢.91% of the diet was insects and crustaceans.

Breeding. Mating of the North African Sengiis seasonal (January—August). Gestation is ¢.75 days, longer than for any other species of sengis. In areas with harsh climates (e.g. high plains of Algeria), first births occur near the end of April, but in more temperate climates (e.g. near coast in Tunisia), first births begin in March. Reproduction is probably constrained by long gestation and relatively short period of warm weather in North Africa (compared with climates of sub-Saharan species). Populations at high elevations might produce one litter per year, but at lower elevations, two litters per year are possible. Litters most frequently have two (58%) and three (31%) young and less frequently one and four (maximum of any species of sengis). No species of soft-furred sengis use nests to shelter or for rearing their young.

Activity patterns. North African Sengis are mainly crepuscular but also nocturnal. Activity patterns tend to fluctuate seasonally, with reported periods of torpor. Sheltering occurs in cracks and crevices of rocks and occasionally in abandoned rodent burrows.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List (as Elephantulus rozeti ). Population trend of the North African Sengi is unknown.

Bibliography. Aulagnier & Thévenot (1986), Corbet & Hanks (1968), Cuzin & Séguignes (1990), Dumbacher et al. (2016), Evans (1942), Olbricht & Stanley (2009), Perrin & Rathbun (2013f), Rathbun (2009, 2015a), Séguignes (1988, 1989).

Figures

1. Golden-rumped Seng (Rhynchocyon chrysopygus), 2. Chequered Sengi (Rhynchocyon cirne), 3. White-tailed Sengi (Rhynchocyon stuhlmanni), 4. Black-and-rufous Sengi (Rhynchocyon petersi), 5. Gray-faced Sengi (Rhynchocyon udzungwensis), 6. Namib Round-eared Sengi (Macroscelides flavicaudatus), 7. Karoo Round-eared Sengi (Macroscelides proboscideus), 8. Etendeka Round-eared Sengi (Macroscelides micus), 9. Four-toed Sengi (Petrodromus tetradactylus), 10. North African Sengi (Petrosaltator rozeti), 11. Rufous Sengi (Elephantulus rufescens), 12. Somali Sengi (Elephantulus revoulii), 13. Dusky-footed Sengi (Elephantulus fuscipes), 14. Short-snouted Sengi (Elephantulus brachyrhynchus), 15. Dusky Sengi (Elephantulus fuscus), 16. Bushveld Sengi (Elephantulus intufi), 17. Western Rock Sengi (Elephantulus rupestris), 18. Eastern Rock Sengi (Elephantulus mywrus), 19. Cape Rock Sengi (Elephantulus edwardii), 20. Karoo Rock Sengi (Elephantulus pilicaudus)

Subspecies and Distribution. P.r.rozetiDuvernoy,1833—coastalsideofAtlasRangeinMorocco,Algeria,andTunisia;WesternSaharaandWLibyaspecimensmightbethissubspecies. P.r. desert: Thomas, 1901 — inland side of Atlas Range, but not into the desert in Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia.