About Rhynchocyon petersi Bocage, 1880
This species has the scientific name Rhynchocyon petersi Bocage, 1880. It is commonly known as the black and rufous sengi, black and rufous elephant shrew, or Zanj elephant shrew. It is one of 17 species of elephant shrew, all of which are found only in Africa. It is native to lowland montane and dense forests in Kenya and Tanzania. Like other species in the genus Rhynchocyon, this is a relatively large elephant shrew species. Adults average about 28 cm (11 in) in length and weigh between 450–700 g (16–25 oz).
The forests of the Eastern Arc Mountains are critical habitats for R. petersi. Chome Forest Reserve in Tanzania hosts an isolated, largely undisturbed population of this species. Population density in the Chome area is significantly lower than in surrounding areas, and the Chome population is estimated to include approximately 2700 individuals. This low density is thought to result from restricted migration and illegal human activity. R. petersi was previously listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, but its status has since been updated to Least Concern. Even with this updated status, the species' overall population numbers are reportedly declining, due to severe forest fragmentation and degradation caused by human expansion.
