The Round‐eared Elephant‐Shrew Macroscelides proboscideus (Macroscelidea) as an omnivore

ABSTRACT Elephant‐shrews were classified as Insectivora and were traditionally considered to be insectivorous, although ancestral forms were herbivorous. Despite the presence of a functional caecum, many authors still describe elephant‐shrews as insectivorous. Three data sets, totalling 143 samples, of the Round‐eared Elephant‐Shrew Macroscelides proboscideus diet from the semi‐arid Karoo, South Africa, were analysed. Results indicate that this species is largely insectivorous, although plant matter makes up almost 45% of the diet by volume. Diet varies seasonally, with the intake of herbage peaking in winter, when herbage may comprise up to 97% of the diet The contribution of insects to the diet was not related to either insect availability (as indexed by pit‐trapping) or body condition, suggesting that Round‐eared Elephant‐Shrews may be true omnivores, selecting a diet of both insects and herbage. The relatively long large intestine of this species of elephant‐shrew may not be related to the water requirements, but may be a plesiomorphic character that has been retained as a consequence of the higher degree of omnivory displayed by Round‐eared Elephant‐Shrews, which appear to consume more plant matter than the other elephant‐shrews.