The small insectivorous mammals native to Africa known as Eastern Rock Elephant Shrews belong to the Macroscelididae family, in the order Macroscelidea. Their traditional common English name comes from a fancied resemblance between their long, noses and the trunk of an elephant, and an assumed relationship with the true shrews (family Soricidae) in the order Insectivora. The 15 species vary in size from about 100 mm to almost 300 mm, from just under 50 g to over 500 g. All are quadrupedal with rather long legs for their size, and although the size of the trunk varies from one species to another, all are able to twist it about in search of food.

Their diet is largely insects and other small creatures, particularly beetles, spiders, worms, ants, and termites, mostly gleaned from leaf litter, but they also take seeds and some green shoots.

They are widely distributed in Zimbabwe; E Botswana; N, C and E south Africa; Lesotho; and W Mozambique.