Golden-rumped elephant shrew vs Lesser Capybara

Rhynchocyon chrysopygus compared with Hydrochoerus isthmius

Key Differences

• Golden-rumped elephant shrew is Endangered while Lesser Capybara is Data Deficient.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Golden-rumped elephant shrew	Lesser Capybara
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class same	Mammalia (Mammals)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Macroscelidea (Macroscelidea)	Rodentia (Rodents)
Family	Macroscelididae	Caviidae
Genus	Rhynchocyon	Hydrochoerus
Species	Rhynchocyon chrysopygus	Hydrochoerus isthmius

Evolutionary Relationship

Golden-rumped elephant shrew and Lesser Capybara share a common ancestor at the Class level: Mammalia. (Mammals)

Conservation Status

Golden-rumped elephant shrew

EN — Endangered

Lesser Capybara

DD — Data Deficient

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Golden-rumped elephant shrew	Lesser Capybara
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Golden-rumped elephant shrew

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical grasslands and savannas, and flooded grasslands and savannas, among 5 distinct biome types within the Afrotropic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Found in Kenya. Currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Lesser Capybara

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Distributed across Colombia and Venezuela.