What Rodents Are Born Precocial?

In biology, "precocial" refers to species whose young are relatively mature and mobile at birth. The term is most often applied to birds, where the span between precocial and altricial, the opposite of precocial, is vast. Precocial species include mammals such as giraffes, musk oxen, African bush elephants, elk, as well as a few rodents.

  1. Elephant Shrew

    • The elephant shrew doesn't actually belong to the shrew family. In fact, these precocial rodents, also known as sengis and jumping shrews, are more closely related to elephants with their long, flexible snouts that resemble elephants' trunks. These rodents are found throughout the southern part of Africa, although they're not particularly common anywhere. They can live in climates ranging from the Namib Desert to the mountainous areas of South Africa to thick forests.

    Grey-faced Sengi

    • The grey-faced sengi is related to the elephant shrew. It has a reddish brown body, a prominent snout, and a grey face. This precocial rodent was identified in 2005, and was the first new elephant shrew species identified in over 120 years. The largest of the species, the grey-faced sengi is found only in the Udzunga mountains of Tanzania, on the eastern coast of Africa, and its population is estimated to be no larger than 100.

    Rufous Elephant Shrew

    • The rufous elephant shrew, a member of the elephant shrew species, are small, mouse-like rodents that are found in east Africa in plains, savannas and forest floors. These precocial animals use their long, mobile snouts to search for ants, worms and termites, their main sources of food. These little creatures are, however, difficult to study because they establish pathways in the ground down which they can shoot at the first sign of danger.

    Pygmy Three-toed Sloth

    • The pygmy three-toed sloth, recognized as a species in 2001, thrive in the mangrove forests of the Caribbean. These laid-back creatures have dwindling numbers, with fewer than 1,000 members of the species estimated to be living. These precocial animals are good swimmers, can turn their head 360 degrees, and grow a green algae on their fur to help them blend in with their surroundings.