Short-eared jumper [1] , or common elephant jumper [1] , or elephant shrew [1] ( Latin Macroscelides proboscideus ) is a species of African mammals from the family of jumpers ( Macroscelidae ).
| Short eared jumper |
Short eared jumper |
| Scientific classification |
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| No rank : | Bilateral symmetric |
| Subfamily : | Macroscelidinae |
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| International Scientific Name |
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Macroscelides proboscideus Shaw , 1800 |
| Area |
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| Security status |
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Least concernIUCN 3.1 Least Concern : 45369602 |
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Content
The sizes are the smallest in the Pryhunchikov family: the body length of an adult individual is 9.5–12.4 cm, the tail is 9.7–13 cm, and the weight is 40–50 g. A distinctive feature is that its ears are smaller and more rounded than in other species. The muzzle is thin, strongly elongated. The coat is long and soft. Color on the upper side of the body - from sandy-brown to orange-yellow with different shades, on the bottom - a lighter, grayish-white. There are no bright rings around the eyes that are characteristic of jumpers. The tail is well pubescent, with a distinguishable odorous gland on the underside. The first finger on the hind limbs is reduced and provided with a claw. The female has 3 pairs of nipples. A distinctive feature of the skull is the large bony auditory bulla . Teeth 40.
Short-eared bouncer inhabits shrub savannah and semi-desert in southwestern South Africa , inhabiting Namibia , southern Botswana and South Africa . The area of its distribution exceeds 500,000 km².
The lifestyle is predominantly daytime, active even in the hot hours of the day, when jumpers like to bask in the sun or take dust baths. The threat from natural predators (especially birds of prey) can force them to change the regime and go in search of food in the twilight, hiding among vegetation during the day. As a refuge they are usually served by empty rodent or burrow holes dug by the jumper itself in sandy soil [2] . Keeps mostly alone and only during the mating season - in pairs. The territory occupied by the diver, usually reaches 1 km ².
The short-eared jumper feeds on insects, mainly ants and termites , and other small invertebrates. Also consume a certain amount of plant food - plant shoots, roots and berries.
Reproduction
In nature, the jumper leads a solitary lifestyle, although in captivity can live in pairs. The breeding season is in August-September. Pregnancy lasts 56-61 days and ends with the birth of 2 (less often 1) cubs. For childbirth, females do not make nests; the offspring is born into the world in a simple shelter or burrow. Cubs are born well developed, with open eyes and covered with hair; a few hours after birth, they are already able to run. The female does not protect the offspring, returning to it only once a day to feed with milk [2] . On the 16th-25th day after birth, the cubs leave the shelter and go on to adult life. Sexual maturity reaches 43 days.
In nature, the life span of a short-eared jumper is small — 1–2 years, and 3–4 years in captivity.
In 1996, the short-eared jumper was listed on the IUCN Red List with the Vulnerable status. However, in 2003, the status was changed to “out of danger” ( Least Concern ), because, despite the low population density, this species is settled in a huge area, most of which is occupied by arid (arid) areas, to a lesser extent subject to anthropogenic transformation. Adversely the position of this species may be affected by the processes of savanna desertification.
