Golden-rumped elephant shrew vs Polynesian rat

Rhynchocyon chrysopygus compared with Rattus exulans

Key Differences

• Golden-rumped elephant shrew is Endangered while Polynesian rat is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Golden-rumped elephant shrew	Polynesian rat
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (cordados)	Chordata (cordados)
Class same	Mammalia (mamíferos)	Mammalia (mamíferos)
Order	Macroscelidea (Macroscelidea)	Rodentia (Rodents)
Family	Macroscelididae	Muridae (Mice & Rats)
Genus	Rhynchocyon	Rattus
Species	Rhynchocyon chrysopygus	Rattus exulans

Evolutionary Relationship

Golden-rumped elephant shrew and Polynesian rat share a common ancestor at the Class level: Mammalia. (mamíferos)

Conservation Status

Golden-rumped elephant shrew

EN — Endangered

Polynesian rat

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Golden-rumped elephant shrew	Polynesian rat
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.

Polynesian rat

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, and tropical and subtropical coniferous forests, among 4 distinct biome types spanning the Australasia and Indomalayan realms. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Widely distributed across Asia (6 countries), Europe (United Kingdom), North America (United States), Oceania and the Pacific (11 countries), and South America (Chile).