The Cape elephant shrew (Elephantulus edwardii),[2][3] also known as the Cape rock elephant-shrew[1][4] or Cape rock sengi,[1] is a species of elephant shrew in the family Macroscelididae. It is endemic to South Africa, although it is a relatively common animal. Its natural habitat is rocky areas.[1] Elephant shrews are not closely related to true shrews, nor to rodents such as mice.[3] E. edwardii has been observed to be a non-flying mammal pollinator of the pagoda lily (Massonia bifolia). Elephant shrews are floral pollinators due to their largely insectivorous diet.[5] Elephant-shrews are pollinators of Hyobanche atropurpurea.[6] It uses its long slender tongue to feed on the pagoda lily's nectar while getting the lily's pollen on its long nose.[4] E. edwardii is also a pollinator of Protea sulphurea.[7]
| Cape elephant shrew | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Macroscelidea |
| Family: | Macroscelididae |
| Genus: | Elephantulus |
| Species: | E. edwardii |
| Binomial name | |
| Elephantulus edwardii (A. Smith, 1839) | |
 | |
| Cape elephant shrew range | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
References
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