In one genus, Rhynchocyon , this is carried to an extreme with the toes on the hind foot being reduced to three in number. Elephant shrews have elongated snouts and large eyes and ears. They range from mouse-sized to the size of a squirrel or large rat. Some species are brightly colored. The upper canine has two roots, like a premolar.
Elephant shrews are insectivorous and do most of their foraging at night.
Most are solitary, although some species appear to live in small colonies. They are excellent hoppers, fleeing from predators with long bounds. They are found in a variety of habitats in northernmost Africa and south of the Sahara. Literature and references cited Vaughan, T. A. 1986. Saunders College Publishing, Fort Worth.