elephant shrew

noun

1. any of several African insectivores of the family Macroscelididae, having long hind legs and a long, sensitive snout.

elephant shrew

noun

1. any small active African mammal of the family Macroscelididae and order Macroscelidea , having an elongated nose, large ears, and long hind legs

Word History and Origins

Origin of elephant shrew¹

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

Among the rediscovered animals are two species in Africa: a tiny mouse-size elephant shrew called the Somali sengi in Djibouti, and the Voeltzkow’s chameleon in Madagascar.

From Washington Post

Finding new populations of a long-lost elephant shrew, and the hunting method of ancient ichthyosaurs.

From Nature

Not seen for almost 50 years, the elephant shrew, a diminutive relative of the elephant, has been spotted in Djibouti in the Horn of Africa.

From Fox News

The last scientific record of the "lost species" of elephant shrew was in the 1970s, despite local sightings.

From BBC

A mouse-sized elephant shrew that had been lost to science for 50 years has been discovered alive and well in the Horn of Africa.

From The Guardian