Lesser hedgehog tenrec

Lesser hedgehog tenrec
Conservation status
	; Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Afrosoricida
Suborder:	Tenrecomorpha
Family:	Tenrecidae
Genus:	Echinops; Martin, 1838
Species:	E. telfairi
Binomial name
	Echinops telfairi; Martin, 1838
	Lesser hedgehog tenrec range

The lesser hedgehog tenrec (Echinops telfairi) is a species of mammal in the family Tenrecidae.

It is the only species in the genus Echinops and is named in honour of Charles Telfair.^[1]

Distribution and habitat[]

It is endemic to Madagascar. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, dry savanna, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, and subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland.^[2]

Description[]

The lesser hedgehog tenrec is a small, stout-bodied animal similar to the hedgehog, hence the name. Their tails are short, their limbs and muzzles are of moderate length, and their ears are prominent. The entire dorsum is covered with sharp spines. Color is usually yellow buff; individuals range from near white to almost black. Head and body length is 5 to 6.8 inches (13 to 17 cm). Weight is about 7 ounces (0.2 kg).

Tenrecs have a cloaca (common uro-genital opening), like a bird or a reptile.^[3]

Behavior[]

This tenrec is terrestrial.^[2] It spends its daytime hours resting under a log, a pile of branches, leaves, straws or in a hollow tree, although trees are widely scattered in its native habitat. In hot weather, it sleeps with its body extended, but otherwise lies in a curled position to rest. It enters a state of torpor in the winter time.^[3]

They mostly feed upon insects but may prey on small vertebrates, and usually forage alone, except for a mother with her young.^[3]

Breeding is known to occur in October but may depend on warm weather first arousing the animals from winter torpor and on an available food supply.

The Lesser hedgehog tenrec is a host of the Acanthocephalan intestinal parasite Promoniliformis ovocristatus.^[4]

Captivity[]

The lesser hedgehog tenrec has become popular in the exotic pet industry.^{[citation needed]}

References[]

Simon and Schuster's Guide to Mammals

^ Jump up to: ^a ^b Bronner, G.N.; Jenkins, P.D. (2005). "Order Afrosoricida". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 76. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c Stephenson, P.J.; Soarimalala, V.; Goodman, S. (2016). "Echinops telfairi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2016: e.T40592A97188634. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T40592A97188634.en. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c "Tenrecs in Madagascar". afrotheria.net. IUCN Afrotheria Specialist Group.
^ Dollfus, Robert-Ph.; Golvan, Yves-J. (1963). "Sur un singulier Métacanthocéphale parasite d'insectivores (Tenrecinae) de Madagascar et des Comores" (PDF). Annales de Parasitologie Humaine et Comparée. 38 (5): 793–806. doi:10.1051/parasite/1963385793. Retrieved February 9, 2020.

External links[]

View the Lesser hedgehog tenrec genome in Ensembl.

[msw3-1] Jump up to: ^a ^b Bronner, G.N.; Jenkins, P.D. (2005). "Order Afrosoricida". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 76. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.

[iucn-2] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c Stephenson, P.J.; Soarimalala, V.; Goodman, S. (2016). "Echinops telfairi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2016: e.T40592A97188634. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T40592A97188634.en. Retrieved 14 December 2019.

[afrotheria.net-3] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c "Tenrecs in Madagascar". afrotheria.net. IUCN Afrotheria Specialist Group.

[Dollfus1963-4] Dollfus, Robert-Ph.; Golvan, Yves-J. (1963). "Sur un singulier Métacanthocéphale parasite d'insectivores (Tenrecinae) de Madagascar et des Comores" (PDF). Annales de Parasitologie Humaine et Comparée. 38 (5): 793–806. doi:10.1051/parasite/1963385793. Retrieved February 9, 2020.

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