🐘🐭 Elephant Shrew: A Small Mammal on the Same Evolutionary Line as Elephants The elephant shrew is a small mammal from the family Macroscelididae found in Africa. One well-known species is **Elephantulus edwardii**. Despite its name, it is not a rodent. Genetic research places it within Afrotheria—a major evolutionary lineage that also includes elephants. It is characterized by a flexible elongated snout used to detect insects, a high metabolic rate, and remarkable speed as an adaptation against predators. The elephant shrew demonstrates how modern DNA-based classification can reveal evolutionary relationships that are not apparent from physical appearance alone.