Elephantulus

Abstract: A new genus, Dichromatobolus gen. nov., belonging to the genus-rich mainly southern hemisphere family Pachybolidae of the order Spirobolida, is described based on D. elephantulus gen. et sp. nov., illustrated with color pictures, line drawings, and scanning electron micrographs. The species is recorded from the spiny bush of southwestern Madagascar. Dichromatobolus elephantulus gen. et sp. nov. shows an unusual color pattern, sexual dichromatism with males being red with black legs and females being grey. Males seem to be more surface active, as mainly males were collected with pitfall traps. Females mainly come from the pet trade. The body of this species is short and very wide, being only 8 times longer than wide in the males. Live observations show the species is a very slow mover, digging in loose soil almost as fast as walking on the surface. The posterior gonopods of Dichromatobolus gen. nov. are unusually simple and well-rounded, displaying some similarities to the genera Corallobolus Wesener, 2009 and Granitobolus Wesener, 2009, from which the new genus differs in numerous other characters, e.g., size, anterior gonopods and habitus. Despite several attempts with fresh tissue samples and different primers, molecular barcoding did not work for Dichromatobolus gen. nov. Any relationships to the other 15 genera of Pachybolidae indigenous to Madagascar remain unknown.

Abstract: Patterns of daily torpor were measured in response to photoperiod and food restriction at a constant temperature (18 degrees C) in two species of elephant shrew (Macroscelidea), Elephantulus rozeti (from Morocco) and Elephantulus myurus (from southern Africa). Body temperature was monitored continuously for ca. 3 months using temperature-sensitive telemeters. Under short photoperiods (8:16 L:D), both species entered spontaneous torpor on an ad libitum diet, but showed a higher frequency of induced torpor when food was restricted. Under long photoperiods (16:8 L:D), E. myurus could be induced to enter daily 'summer' torpor. A total of 378 torpor bouts were measured, none of which were longer in duration than 18 h. Under short photoperiods, arousal from torpor was associated with the onset of the photoperiod, whereas the time of entry was variable throughout the scotophase. However, E. myurus tended to phase shift torpor from the photophase to the scotophase under long photoperiods, despite displaying weak circadian amplitudes of body temperature indicative of a photophase rest phase. Both species lacked well-defined circadian amplitudes of body temperature, a pattern thought to be associated with polyphasic activity cycles characteristic of several Elephantuluis species. It was concluded that these and other patterns of torpor shown by Elephantulus show similarities with other small Afrotropical insectivores inhabiting semi-arid habitats or unpredictable environments.

Abstract: The interaction between Protea humiflora and its non-flying mammal pollinators was investigated with the aim of quantifying the relationship for both the plants and mammals involved. We manipulated flower density by inflorescence removal and determined the effect upon mammal captures, and excluded mammals to determine their effect upon seed set. Of three mammal species captured frequently, the smallest, Acomys subspinosus (18±4 SD g, Rodentia: Muridae), demonstrated the strongest relationship with P. humiflora. Breeding coincided with flowering, and pollen constituted 33.5±27.5% by volume (max 80%, n=19) of winter scats. Acomys captures on control grids were twice those on inflorescence-removal grids during flowering. Aethomys namaquensis (51±14 g, Rodentia: Muridae) included flower products in its diet (pollen comprising 3.2±4.9% of winter scats, n=73), but captures were not affected by inflorescence removal. Aethomys is a seasonal breeder and juveniles entered the population 2 months after flowering. Elephantulus edwardii, although an insectivore (48±7 g, Macroscelidea: Macroscelididae), carried more pollen grains on its nose than the rodents, acquired while foraging in inflorescences for insects. Pollen comprised 3.1±5.4% (n=23) of winter scats. From the plant perspective, seed set was significantly reduced in caged inflorescences and in those >20 cm above the ground, presumably due to limited accessibility by terrestrial animals. We conclude that small mammals are responsible for around half (56%) of the effective seed set in P. humiflora.

Abstract: Summary 1 Graphical reconstructions were studied from serial sections of the hands of Ptilocercus, Tupaia, Elephantulus and Crocidura 2 In all these insectivores and in Erinaceus the contrahentes and flexores breves profundi arise by a common fibrous sheet from the distal row of carpal bones, and have no metacarpal attachment. 3 The presence of this specialization suggests that the Insectivora constitute a, natural group. 4 Crocidura and other Soricidae have a complete set of smooth palmar, pads, and carpal vibrissae are developed, but many short palmer muscles have been lost. 5 The pollex is dwarfed in Elephantulus as in other Macroscelididae, and the thenar pads have been lost, but a full set of palmar muscles is retained. 6 The striation of the pads and the presence of raphes between the contrahentes in the Tupaiidae are probably arboreal specializations. 7 While the primitive eutherian hand probably resembled that of Crocidura in outward appearance, its musculature resembled that of Elephantulus, except that the flexores breves profundi arose from the metacarpals. 8 Hand anatomy constitutes no evidence either for or against the association of the Tupaiidae end Macroscelididae in a single suborder (Menotyphla) but divergent specialization of the contrahentes excludes any close association of the Tupaiidae with the Lemuridae.