Species of the Day: Golden-rumped Sengi
© Galen Rathbun, California Academy of Sciences
Species of the Day: Golden-rumped Sengi
Geographical range
www.iucnredlist.org www.afrotheria.net Help Save Species www.arkive.org
The Golden-rumped Sengi, Rhynchocyon chrysopygus, is listed as ‘Endangered’ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM. Also known as the Golden-rumped Elephantshrew, this species has a large, flexible snout, with which it forages through leaf-litter for invertebrates. Its range is along the coast of Kenya, from the Mombasa area north to the mouth of the Tana River. There is no longer any evidence that it crosses the river – instead, a potentially different species is found between the Tana and Somalia. The Golden-rumped Sengi is severely threatened by habitat destruction along the Kenyan coast, with forests being relentlessly cleared for farming, development and timber collection. Illegal trapping of this species for food also occurs, although current levels are thought to be sustainable. Although there are no specific conservation measures in place for this species other than a monitoring programme, it does occur within the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest. This partially protected area is the focus of a project to promote long-term conservation through sustainable management and community participation in forest conservation.
Species of the Day is sponsored by
The production of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ is made possible through the IUCN Red List Partnership: IUCN (including the Species Survival Commission), BirdLife International, Conservation International, NatureServe and Zoological Society of London.
Species of the Day: Golden-rumped Sengi
Geographical range
www.iucnredlist.org www.afrotheria.net Help Save Species www.arkive.org
The Golden-rumped Sengi, Rhynchocyon chrysopygus, is listed as ‘Endangered’ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM. Also known as the Golden-rumped Elephantshrew, this species has a large, flexible snout, with which it forages through leaf-litter for invertebrates. Its range is along the coast of Kenya, from the Mombasa area north to the mouth of the Tana River. There is no longer any evidence that it crosses the river – instead, a potentially different species is found between the Tana and Somalia. The Golden-rumped Sengi is severely threatened by habitat destruction along the Kenyan coast, with forests being relentlessly cleared for farming, development and timber collection. Illegal trapping of this species for food also occurs, although current levels are thought to be sustainable. Although there are no specific conservation measures in place for this species other than a monitoring programme, it does occur within the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest. This partially protected area is the focus of a project to promote long-term conservation through sustainable management and community participation in forest conservation.
Species of the Day is sponsored by
The production of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ is made possible through the IUCN Red List Partnership: IUCN (including the Species Survival Commission), BirdLife International, Conservation International, NatureServe and Zoological Society of London.
