Overview

Elephantulus edwardii – (A. Smith, 1839) 

ANIMALIA – CHORDATA – MAMMALIA – MACROSCELIDEA – MACROSCELIDIDAE – Elephantulus – edwardii 

Common Names: Cape Rock Sengi, Cape Rock Elephant-shrew, Cape Sengi, Cape Elephant-shrew (English), Kaapse Klipklaasneus (Afrikaans)

Synonyms: Macroscelides edwardii A. Smith, 1839; Elephantulus edwardi (A. Smith, 1839) [orth. error] 

For general biological information on all sengi species, consult accounts in: Species accounts: Order Macroscelidea, in: Perrin, M. & Rathbun, G. B. 2013. Mammals of Africa, Volume I (Ed. by Kingdon, J., Happold, D., Hoffmann, M., Butynski, T., Happold, M. & Kalina, J.), pp. 261-278. London: Bloombury. Order Macroscelidea. In: Rathbun, G. B., (subeditor). 2005. The Mammals of the Southern African Subregion, 3rd edition (Ed. by Skinner, J. D. & Chimimba, C. T.), pp. 22-34. Cape Town, South Africa: Cambridge University Press. Rathbun, G. B. 2013. Species accounts, in: Mammals of Africa, Volume I (Ed. by Kingdon, J., Happold, D., Hoffmann, M., Butynski, T., Happold, M. & Kalina, J.), pp. 279-287. London: Bloomsbury. Order MACROSCELIDEA, in: Heritage, S. 2018. Handbook of the Mammals of the World, Volume 8. Insectivores, Sloths and Colugos (D.E. Wilson and R.A. Mittermeier, eds), Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain. For current and more technical information, search the on-line bibliography at www.sengis.org. Molecular genetics and morphology suggest that Elephantulus rozeti from northern Africa and Petrodromus spp. are more closely related to each other than E. rozeti is to any of the other species of Elephantulus, suggesting that a new genus perhaps should be established for these two taxa. The original description of this species was spelled E. edwardii, which is considered by some to be an out-dated form. Corbet and Hanks (1968) used the more modern spelling E. edwardi. Apparently either is correct, although IUCN is using the spelling of the original description.  

Taxonomic Note:
In the past, the single family was included in the order Insectivora, but now the family is in the monophyletic order Macroscelidea and the superorder Afrotheria. Currently, there are 20 living species recognised in six genera. The soft-furred sengis or elephant-shrews include five genera: Petrodromus and Petrosaltator are monospecific, Macroscelides has three species, Galegeeska has two species and Elephantulus contains 8 species. The five species of giant sengis belong to the genus Rhynchocyon. The common name “sengi” is being used in place of elephant-shrew by many biologists to try and disassociate the Macroscelidea from the true shrews (family Soricidae) in the order Eulipotyphla.  

See the Afrotheria Specialist Group web site and www.sengis.org for additional information. 

Assessment Information

Assessor: Roxburgh, L.¹ 

Reviewer: Schradin, C.² 

Institutions: ¹Endangered Wildlife Trust, ²Institut pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien 

Previous Assessors: Rathbun, G.B. & Smit-Robinson, H.  

Previous Reviewers: Taylor, A. 

Previous Contributors: Page-Nicholson, S. & Child, M.F. 

Assessment Rationale 

The Cape Rock Sengi is listed as Least Concern. Although this species is not abundant, it is widespread in suitable habitats over an extent of occurrence of 362,534 km². Area of occupancy is estimated as 568 km², using the IUCN’s 2×2 km method and all available occurrence records (current and historical). Because it occupies rocky habitats that are arid and will not support most development, there are few threats to the area occupied by the Cape Rock Sengi, apart from habitat loss and degradation due to renewable energy developments, particularly wind and solar, and mineral extraction. Areas close to rivers or reliable sources of water may have been developed, or may be developed in the future, as urban areas. For example, alluvial areas along rivers in the Cedarberg Mountains of South Africa have been developed for agriculture, but these habitats are not usually occupied by Cape Rock Sengis, and these areas are relatively small compared to the overall distribution of this species. New mining activity in the Northern Cape could be a local risk. Small areas may also be impacted by intensive goat and sheep grazing as well as mineral extraction activities, but these types of disturbances are confined to small areas compared to the overall distribution of the species. Past development in this region of Africa is not expected to have had a significant impact on this sengi or its habitats, but the effects of current and future mineral extraction and renewable energy developments should be monitored. 

Red List Index 

Red List Index: No change 

Recommended citation: Roxburgh L. 2025. A conservation assessment of Elephantulus edwardii. In Patel T, Smith C, Roxburgh L, da Silva JM & Raimondo D, editors. The Red List of Mammals of South Africa, Eswatini and Lesotho. South African National Biodiversity Institute and Endangered Wildlife Trust, South Africa.

Regional Distribution and occurrence

Geographic Range 

The Cape Sengi is endemic to South Africa (Corbet and Hanks 1968, Skinner and Chimimba 2005). Although many older distribution maps show it as having two disjunct areas of occurrence, data indicate that it is continuously distributed (Stuart and Stuart 1991, Friedman and Daly 2004). It has not been recorded in Namibia, and is not suspected to occur north of the Orange River. 

Elevation / Depth / Depth Zones 

Elevation Lower Limit (in metres above sea level): (Not specified) 

Elevation Upper Limit (in metres above sea level): (Not specified) 

Depth Lower Limit (in metres below sea level): (Not specified) 

Depth Upper Limit (in metres below sea level): (Not specified) 

Depth Zone: (Not specified) 

Biogeographic Realms 

Biogeographic Realm: Afrotropical 

Map

Figure 1. Distribution records for Cape Rock Sengi (Elephantulus edwardii) within the assessment region (South Africa, Eswatini and Lesotho). Note that distribution data is obtained from multiple sources and records have not all been individually verified.

Countries of Occurrence

Large Marine Ecosystems (LME) Occurrence 

Large Marine Ecosystems: (Not specified) 

FAO Area Occurrence 

FAO Marine Areas: (Not specified) 

Climate change

As an endemic species, with a limited range and low abundance, an understanding of the climate change impacts on this species are important. It is a nocturnal species that shelters under boulders and in rocky crevices and might be able to avoid the worst impacts of heatwaves. However, considering the known and predicted impacts of climate change on succulent plant species especially in the north of its range (e.g., Young et al. 2016), this is cause for concern for many species, especially endemics, occurring in this part of the country.  

Under various climate change scenarios from 1.5 to 4°C warming, the range of this species will experience a) a 10 to 40 % decline in rainfall, b) a 1.5 to >6°C increase in temperature and c) increases in drought, and heat wave and fire risk days (Engelbrecht et al. 2024), with most severe changes expected in the northern part of its range. These are significant changes and would increase the heat burden on the animals significantly.  

Population information

This species is widespread and can be fairly common (Rathbun & Rathbun 2006), especially on relatively firm sandy soils (but not sand dunes), but no information is available for virtually the entire South African range of the species. However, based on the relatively large specimen collections in museums, it is relatively common where it occurs. There are no published estimates of population densities.

Current population trend: Stable 

Continuing decline in mature individuals? Unknown 

Extreme fluctuations in the number of subpopulations: (Not specified) 

Continuing decline in number of subpopulations: (Not specified) 

All individuals in one subpopulation: (Not specified) 

Number of mature individuals in largest subpopulation: (Not specified) 

Number of Subpopulations: (Not specified) 

Severely fragmented: No. The habitats this species occupies are largely intact and connected across regions, so dispersal is possible. 

Quantitative Analysis

Probability of extinction in the wild within 3 generations or 10 years, whichever is longer, maximum 100 years: (Not specified) 

Probability of extinction in the wild within 5 generations or 20 years, whichever is longer, maximum 100 years: (Not specified) 

Probability of extinction in the wild within 100 years: (Not specified) 

Population genetics

Smit et al. (2007a) showed significant substructure across its distribution. There is a distinct northern Namaqua and central Fynbos clade with four evolutionary lineages within the latter. The geographical delimitation of the northern and central clades corresponds closely with patterns reported for other rock-dwelling vertebrate species, indicating a shared biogeographical history for these taxa in South Africa (Smit et al. 2007a). 

Mitochondrial DNA analysis showed that E. edwardii has a pattern of geographically distinct haplotypes and no main ancestral haplotypes, suggesting intraspecific variation (Crowhurst 2022). 

Habitats and ecology

This species occupies rocky habitats, often with many large boulders and many crevices, and its habitat association and genetics are further discussed by Smit et al. (2007a,b). Because it occupies rocky habitats that are arid and will not support most development, there are no major threats to the area occupied by the Cape Rock Sengi. In the southwestern Cape (Overberg region – Western Cape Province) the species is often found in mountainous terrain (H.A. Smit-Robinson pers. obs.). This species does not seem to be dependent on a specific habitat type as it is found from hard sandy ground sparsely covered with vegetation and, in the Cederberg Mountains, it is recorded on rocky slopes with or without vegetation cover (Skinner & Smithers 1990). Key vegetation types for this species include: Fynbos, Succulent and Nama Karoo Biomes. It is primarily insectivorous, but it also known to consume nectar and pollen (Wester 2010). 

Ecosystem and cultural services: Sengi species, including the Cape Rock Sengi, are thought to be included in San art and are therefore subject to local folklore. This particular Sengi species can also be considered a flagship species for the Fynbos Biome. 

Continuing decline in area, extent and/or quality of habitat: No 

IUCN Habitats Classification Scheme

Life History

Generation Length: (Not specified)

Age at maturity: female or unspecified: (Not specified)

Age at Maturity: Male: (Not specified)

Size at Maturity (in cms): Female: 24

Size at Maturity (in cms): Male: 23

Longevity: 9.3 years (captivity; Weigl 2005)

Average Reproductive Age: (Not specified)

Maximum Size (in cms): (Not specified)

Size at Birth (in cms): (Not specified)

Gestation Time: (Not specified)

Reproductive Periodicity: (Not specified)

Average Annual Fecundity or Litter Size: 1.7

Natural Mortality: (Not specified)

Breeding Strategy

Does the species lay eggs? No

Does the species give birth to live young? Yes

Does the species exhibit parthenogenesis? No

Does the species have a free-living larval stage? No

Does the species require water for breeding? No

Movement Patterns

Movement Patterns: Not a Migrant 

Congregatory: (Not specified) 

Systems

System: Terrestrial

General Use and Trade Information

General notes regarding trade and use of this species: There is no evidence that this species is used for local or international trade.  

Local Livelihood: (Not specified) 

National Commercial Value: (Not specified) 

International Commercial Value: (Not specified) 

End Use: (Not specified) 

Is there harvest from captive/cultivated sources of this species? (Not specified) 

Harvest Trend Comments: (Not specified) 

Threats

There are no known major threats to the species. Habitat modification to relatively small areas may occur near rivers and human population centres due to small-holder and industrial agriculture, mineral extraction, and urban development, however, these are not considered major threats to the current population. However, mineral extraction, particularly affecting the northern population of this species, has increased in recent years, with mines being revived or newly developed in the past decade. Climate change and illegal trade impacts on succulent species could indirectly affect this species, both directly as a source of food and indirectly as a source of food for insects, its main diet.  

Conservation

The species occurs in protected areas, but no details have been documented or assembled. Key protected areas include: Cedarberg Wilderness Area, Goegap Nature Reserve and several other nature reserves in the Western Cape. Because of the minor conservation problems facing this taxon, no conservation measures are needed or recommended at present. However, the species would presumably benefit from protected area expansion and mine rehabilitation. 

Recommendations for land managers and practitioners: 

• Expansion of the protected area network, particularly in the northern part of the species range. 
• Improved protection of habitat within protected areas 
• Land managers should stock cattle or wildlife at ecologically sustainable levels. 

Research priorities: 

• Basic population parameters, such as population densities, longevity etc 
• Impacts of climate change, including responses to temperature, rainfall and succulent extinctions, particularly in the north of this species range 
• Predicted impacts of climate change through climate change modelling 
  Severity of anthropogenic threats on the population needs to be better understood. 
• Determine if there is any sympatric co-occurrence with the two other rock sengis with overlapping ranges, E. pilicaudus and E. rupestris. 

Encouraged citizen actions: 

Citizens are encouraged to report sightings on virtual museum platforms (for example, iNaturalist and MammalMAP) with photographic confirmation.  

Bibliography

Corbet, G.B. and Hanks, J. 1968. A revision of the elephant-shrews, family Macroscelididae. Bulletin of the British Museum of Natural History (Zoology) 16: 1-111. 

Douady, C.J., Catzeflis, F., Raman, J., Springer, M.S. and Stanhope, M.J. 2003. The Sahara as a vicariant agent, and the role of Miocene climatic events, in the diversification of the mammalian order Macroscelidea (elephant shrews). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 100: 8325-8330. 

Engelbrecht, F.A., Steinkopf, J., Padavatan, J., Midgley, G.F. 2024. Projections of Future Climate Change in Southern Africa and the Potential for Regional Tipping Points. In: von Maltitz, G.P., et al. Sustainability of Southern African Ecosystems under Global Change. Ecological Studies, vol 248. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-10948-5_7.  

IUCN. 2015. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2015.2. Available at: www.iucnredlist.org. (Accessed: 23 June 2015). 

Heritage, S. 2018. Order MACROSCELIDEA. In Handbook of the Mammals of the World, Volume 8. Insectivores, Sloths and Colugos (D.E. Wilson and R.A. Mittermeier, eds), Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain.   

Rathbun, G.B. (subeditor). 2005. Macroscelidea. In: J.D. Skinner and C.T. Chimimba (eds), The Mammals of the Southern African Subregion, 3rd edition, pp. 22-34. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. 

Skinner, J.D. and Chimimba, C.T. (eds). 2005. The Mammals of the Southern African Subregion. Third edition. Cambridge University Press, United Kingdom, Cambridge. 

Smit, H.A., Robinson, T.J. and Jansen van Vuuren, B. 2007a. Coalescence methods reveal the impact of vicariance on the spatial genetic structure of the Cape rock elephant-shrew (Afrotheria, Macroscelidea). Molecular Ecology 16: 2680-2692. 

Smit, H.A., Robinson, T.J. and Jansen van Vuuren, B. 2007b. Vicariance and the endemic Cape rock sengi (Elephantulus edwardii): are these two linked? Afrotherian Conservation, Newsletter of the IUCN-SSC Afrotheria Specialist Group 5: 5-7. 

Smit, H.A., Robinson, T.J., Watson, J. and van Vuuren, B.J. 2008. A new species of elephant-shrew (Afrotheria: Macroscelidea: Elephantulus) from South Africa. Journal of Mammalogy 89: 1257-1269. 

Smit, H.A., van Vuuren, B.J., O’Brian, P.C.M., Ferguson-Smith, M.A., Yang, F. and Robinson, T.J. 2011. Phylogenetic relationships of elephant-shrews (Afrotheria, Macroscelididae). Journal of Zoology, London 284: 133-143. 

Stuart, C. and Stuart, T. 2001. Field Guide to Mammals of Southern Africa. Struik Publishers, Cape Town, South Africa.  

Weigl R 2005. Longevity of Mammals in Captivity; from the Living Collections of the World. Kleine Senckenberg-Reihe 48: Stuttgart. 

Wester, P. Sticky snack for sengis: The Cape rock elephant-shrew, Elephantulus edwardii (Macroscelidea), as a pollinator of the Pagoda lily, Whiteheadia bifolia (Hyacinthaceae). Naturwissenschaften 97, 1107–1112 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-010-0723-6. 

Young, A.J., Guo, D., Desmet, P.G, Midgley, G.F. 2016. Biodiversity and climate change: Risks to dwarf succulents in Southern Africa, Journal of Arid Environments. 129: 16-24. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2016.02.005.