Rhynchocyon

Rhynchocyon is a genus of elephant shrews in the family Macroscelididae. Members of this genus are known colloquially as giant sengis. They are a ground-dwelling mammal, significantly larger than their relatives in the order Macroscelidea that live primarily in dense forests across eastern Africa. Habitats range from eastern Africa's coastal forests, Rift Valley highlands, and the Congo basin. The species is widely threatened, with two of four assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species. Habitat fragmentation from the growth of human settlements and activities are the primary threats to their populations. The genus contains the following five species and several subspecies: Golden-rumped sengi, Rhynchocyon chrysopygus Rhynchocyon chrysopygus mandelai Chequered sengi, Rhynchocyon cirnei Rhynchocyon cirnei shirensis Rhynchocyon cirnei reichardi Rhynchocyon cirnei hendersoni Rhynchocyon cirnei macrurus Black and rufous sengi, Rhynchocyon petersi Rhynchocyon petersi adersi Stuhlmann's sengi, Rhynchocyon stuhlmanni Grey-faced sengi, Rhynchocyon udzungwensis

== Biology and ecology == The giant sengis are endemic to Africa, and usually live in lowland montane and dense forests, often "avoiding" edges of forest patches. These dense forests play a role in their shelter and reproduction, as they provide the ecological niche in which sengis exploit. They are typically active in the day (diurnal), spending their nights hidden in the shelters that they build the morning prior. After a few nights of use, sengis tend to abandon their shelters to create new ones elsewhere. They typically build their shelters at ground level, requiring dry leaf litter. The primary structure of a nest for R. udzungwensis, for example, consists of the excavation of a cup-like indentation in the soil, layered with leaves, and then covered with looser leaves as a roof covering. They usually construct their nests at the base of trees. They also use hollowed, fallen trees or trunks to retreat in shelter, especially when faced with predation. Sengis respond to disturbances by staying still or making loud thumping noises on the forest floor. In instances of predation, the giant sengi uses a half-bound gait to rapidly run away.