page_title: Macroscelides micus
section_title: Discovery and identification
hierarchical_section_title: Macroscelides micus / Discovery and identification
caption_attribution_description: English: Macroscelides micus study site in eastern Goboboseb Mountains, northwestern Namibia. View from the northern end of #4947M home range looking south across home range area of #4020F. White flagging on top of rock in foreground is a day shelter of #4947M. Boscia bush in far middle of image was used as a shelter at night. The alluvial plains between the Boscia bush and the sand dunes in far distance, beyond rust-colored rocky Macroscelides micus habitat in foreground, were rarely used by M. micus, but are likely habitat of M. flavicaudatus. Wooden handle of radio-tracking antenna on right margin of image is 30 cm long.
context_page_description: Macroscelides micus is a species of elephant shrew in the family Macroscelididae. It is only found in gravel plains in the Etendeka formation of north-west Namibia. Measuring about 7.3 inches long and weighing less than an ounce, the species is the smallest in the elephant shrew family.
context_section_description: Macroscelides micus was first spotted as an unusual sample (collected in 2006) among a collection of elephant shrews stored at the California Academy of Sciences, its red fur distinguishing it from other specimens. Genetic testing suggested it was a distinct species, but additional evidence was needed to confirm the finding. Dumbacher et al. traveled to the Namib Desert nine times over a number of years where they set traps baited with peanut butter, oats, and Marmite. A total of 21 elephant shrew specimens were obtained, 15 of which belonged to the new species.
  In 2014, Dumbacher et al. formally described M. micus as a new species. The specific name comes from the Greek mikros, meaning small. The "Etendeka" in the common name is the native word for the mountain range where M. micus lives. The scientific team speculated the species had not previously been identified because it has a small range in a remote area that is hard to reach.
caption: M. micus habitat in Namibia: white flagging marks an individual day-shelter
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