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Tailless tenrec - side view, Pyreras Reserve, Madagascar
Another Madagascar-only category: Tenrecs. Tenrecs visually somewhat resemble a hedgehog yet are not closely related. All 31 Tenrec species are believed to descend from a single ancestor that rafted from mainland Africa to Madagascar some 29-37 millions of years ago.
Some unique characteristics of Tenrecs:
- Low body temperature for a mammal, so no scrotum needed to cool sperm
- The anus and urogenital tracts share a single opening, very unusual for a mammal
- They can't see much yet compensate with other keen senses, especially their whiskers are sensitive
- Female carry as many as 32 young and have 29 teats, more than any other mammal
- They can hibernate uninterrupted for 9 months, longer than any other tropical mammal
Diversity within the Tenrec group is enormous. This particular one, the Tailless tenrec, does have a tail yet it is very short. It is the largest of Tenrec species and very spikey, even the face is covered with sharp spikes.
The tailless tenrec , also known as the common tenrec, is a species of mammal in the Tenrecidae family. It is the only member of the genus, ''Tenrec''. It is found in Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Réunion, and Seychelles. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, dry savanna, moist savanna, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, subtropical or tropical moist shrubland, subtropical.. more
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What a cutie! The tailless tenrec (Tenrec ecaudatus) is native to Madagascar and is the largest species in its family. Although, being considered “large” is a relative term since the tailless tenrec doesn’t exceed 39 cm (15.5 in) in length and 2 kg (4.4 lbs) in weight. So, they are large, small creatures: the Goliaths of the tenrec world. In addition to their robust size, tenrecs have so many cool features! For example, they have a low body temperature, which means the males don’t need a scrotum to cool sperm. Tenrecs have sensitive, spiny hairs and whiskers that they erect when threatened. They also scream when affrighted. Females give birth to litters of as many as 32 babies, which is more than any other mammal! Thirty-two babies in ONE litter!! These “lucky” ladies also have 29 teats to feed their hoard of young. Apparently, the last three babies get an early lesson in patience while waiting for a teat to open up. To add to this growing list of unique qualities, tenrecs have a cloaca, which is a weird thing for a placental mammal to possess. The cloaca is the only opening for the digestive, reproductive, and urinary tracts. So, they excrete urine, feces, and babies through this one orifice. Tenrecs are also the only known tropical mammals that hibernate, uninterrupted for up to nine months! Finally, despite being known as the “tailless tenrec”, they do have a tail. Granted, it’s only about 1 cm long, but it’s still there. Perhaps, “tiny-tailed tenrec” would have been a better common name for this fantastically weird mammal?! {Spotted in Madagascar by JungleDragon founder, Ferdy Christant} Posted 6 years ago