Macroscelides micus was first spotted as an unusual sample (collected in 2006) among a collection of elephant shrews stored at the California Academy of Sciences, its red fur distinguishing it from other specimens.
Genetic testing suggested it was a distinct species, but additional evidence was needed to confirm the finding.
Dumbacher et al.
traveled to the Namib Desert nine times over a number of years where they set traps baited with peanut butter, oats, and Marmite.
A total of 21 elephant shrew specimens were obtained, 15 of which belonged to the new species.

In 2014, Dumbacher et al.
formally described M. micus as a new species.
The specific name comes from the Greek mikros, meaning small.
The "Etendeka" in the common name is the native word for the mountain range where M. micus lives.
The scientific team speculated the species had not previously been identified because it has a small range in a remote area that is hard to reach.
Macroscelides micus was first spotted as an unusual sample (collected in 2006) among a collection of elephant shrews stored at the California Academy of Sciences, its red fur distinguishing it from other specimens. Genetic testing suggested it was a distinct species, but additional evidence was needed to confirm the finding. Dumbacher et al. traveled to the Namib Desert nine times over a number of years where they set traps baited with peanut butter, oats, and Marmite. A total of 21 elephant shrew specimens were obtained, 15 of which belonged to the new species.
In 2014, Dumbacher et al. formally described M. micus as a new species. The specific name comes from the Greek mikros, meaning small. The "Etendeka" in the common name is the native word for the mountain range where M. micus lives. The scientific team speculated the species had not previously been identified because it has a small range in a remote area that is hard to reach.
Macroscelides micus