Tiny mammal reappears after 50 years in hiding

This week, scientists announced they found long-lost species of elephant shrew in the mountains of the Republic of Djibouti.

The Somali Elephant-shrew was last seen in the 1970s.

Rather than being extinct, the Somali elephant-shrew was marked "data deficient."

Other rediscovered animals include Jackson's climbing salamander and the silver-backed chevrotain.

Thanks to the new discovery, the Somali Elephant-shrew will be removed from the Global Wildlife Conservation's list of 25 Most Wanted Lost Species.

Elephant shrews, or sengis, live only in Africa.

There are 19 species alive today.

Some of the tiny mammal's closest living relatives may come as a surprise. >>

Elephant shrews are also cousins with aardvarks, elephants, hyraxes, and manatees. All share a 60 million-year-old ancestor in Africa.

The return of the elephant shrew is described in a new study, led by Duke University researcher Steven Heritage. It appears in the journal PeerJ.

The elephant-like snout on these shrews comes in handy when digging through leaves, looking for prey.

In a classic viral YouTube video, the snout also seems to help with hitting the high notes...