Rhynchocyon cirnei

Peters, 1847

Checkered Sengi

Figure 1. Photograph by B. Stanley.

Figure 2. FMNH 171474. Photograph by R. Banasiak.

Type Description:

Bericht Verhandl. K. Preuss. Akad. Wiss. Berlin, 12:37

Type Locality:

Mozambique, Bororo Dist., Quelimane.

Measurements:

Total length: 495 mm

Head and body: 235-315 mm

Tail length: 190-263 mm

Hindfoot length: 80 mm

Ear length: 30 mm

Weight: 408-440 g

Description:

Rhynchocyon cirnei is recognized by the distinctive pattern of spots and stripes. Representatives of this species found in coastal habitats are not as distinctive, and further study is needed to elucidate the relationships of these forms to other races of sengi. R. cirnei is the most diverse of the currently recognized species of sengi and several subspecies are recognized.

Comparisons:

None of the other Rhynchocyon species have the distinctive pattern of spots and stripes.

Distribution:

Rhynchocyon cirnei resides in forests and gallery forests at low, medium, and high altitudes throughout the east african nations. (Kingdon, 1984, 1997)

Ecological Notes:

This species exhibits many of the same behaviours as the other species of the genus, including maintaining trails through established territories and beating the ground with the hindfoot to signal alarm. (Kingdon, 1984)

Key Reference:

1. Kingdon, J. 1984. East African mammals: An atlas of evolution in Africa. (Insectivores and Bats). University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 2A:40-52.
2. Kingdon, J. 1997. The Kingdon field guide to African mammals, AP Natural World Academic Press, Harcourt Brace & Company, San Diego, p. 151-152.
3. Nowak, R. M. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World. Sixth ed. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, 2:1739-1742.