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New Mammal Discovered
Saturday, February 02, 2008
The strange creature was first spotted in 2005 but has only now been confirmed as a previously unknown species of giant sengi - an elephant shrew. It's been given the scientific name of Rhynochocyon udzungwensis.
The new sengi is about 12 inches (30cm) long and looks like a cross between an antelope and an anteater. Only much smaller.
The new animal was originally spotted by Francesco Rovero, from the Trento Museum of Natural Sciences in Italy. He caught it on film in Ndundulu Forest, part of Tanzania's Udzungwa Mountains. The creature looked so strange that he went back in 2006 to collect samples. An international team has now confirmed that it is indeed a new species.
The Udzungwa Mountains are described as a biodiversity "hotspot" that could house other undiscovered creatures.
Labels: cryptozoology
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