Find new animals in Tanzania

The new animal found in Tanzania looks very strange and is an elephant shrew. This animal is about the size of a small cat, a rough body, amber-colored, has a long, movable nose and stands on its slender legs.

Scientists say that this animal looks like an antelope and a miniature anteater. Although this mammal is called an elephant shrew, in fact this species and about 15 other species of shrews have no connection to the shrews.

Biologically, the elephant shrews (found only in Africa) have relatives who are close to elephants and sea cows and some other animals in Africa. These species share a common ancestor living 100 million years ago.

This newly found animal was first recorded in 2005 and so far scientists have determined that this is a new species. Regarding behavior, they can use long, moving noses to catch insects such as termites, ants and hunt all day long.

Professor Galen Rathbun of the California Institute of Science is the head of an international team of scientists who identified the species as a newly discovered species, saying: "This is the most interesting discovery of my career."

Professor Galen Rathbun and the newly discovered animal (Photo: AFP)