International   

‘Bizarre’ mammal discovered

London: A new species of mammal — a type of giant elephant shrew — has been found in the mountains of Tanzania.

The bizarre-looking creature, dubbed Rhynochocyon udzungwensis, looks like a cross between a miniature antelope and a small ant-eater; has a grey face, a long snout, a bulky amber body, a jet-black rump; and stands on spindly legs.

The creature is closely related to a group of African mammals, which include elephants, sea cows, aardvarks and hyraxes, having shared a common ancestor with them about 100 million years ago.

It was first captured on film in a trap set up by an Italian team who were surveying mammals in the Ndundulu Forest in Tanzania’s Udzungwa Mountains. — PTI

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Pakistan test-fires Ghauri
Rights group slams U.S., U.K.
Pakistan unable to confirm killing of Al-Qaeda leader
Pakistan lawyer set free
Scores of LTTE bunkers destroyed: Colombo
When vital cable links gave way
Indian sailors rescued
‘Bizarre’ mammal discovered

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu