Tenrecidae

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

iTenrecidae
Tenrec ecaudatus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Afrosoricida Suborder: Tenrecomorpha Butler, 1972 Family: Tenrecidae Gray, 1821
Subfamilies
Geogalinae Oryzorictinae Potamogalinae Tenrecinae

Tenrecidae (common name tenrecs) is a family of mammals found on Madagascar and parts of western Africa. Tenrecs are widely diverse, resembling hedgehogs, shrews, opossums, mice and even otters. They can occupy several environments including aquatic, arboreal, terrestrial and fossorial. Some of these species can be found in the Madagascar dry deciduous forests, including the Greater hedgehog tenrec. There are four subfamilies, 10 genera, and 30 species of tenrecs. They are sometimes called the fake hedgehog.

[edit] Use

In the island nation of Mauritius, tenrec meat is a source of food, providing variety in a diet that consists largely of fish. They are hunted at night in a traditional manner using wooden clubs.

The Lesser Hedgehog Tenrec (Echinops telfairi) is one of 16 mammalian species that will have its genome sequenced as part of the Mammalian Genome Project.

[edit] Species

FAMILY TENRECIDAE

• Subfamily Geogalinae
  • Genus Geogale
    • Large-eared Tenrec (Geogale aurita)
• Subfamily Oryzorictinae
  • Genus Limnogale
    • Web-footed Tenrec (Limnogale mergulus)
  • Genus Genus Microgale
    • Short-tailed Shrew Tenrec (Microgale brevicaudata)
    • Cowan's Shrew Tenrec (Microgale cowani)
    • Dobson's Shrew Tenrec (Microgale dobsoni)
    • Drouhard's Shrew Tenrec (Microgale drouhardi)
    • Dryad Shrew Tenrec (Microgale dryas)
    • Pale Shrew Tenrec (Microgale fotsifotsy)
    • Gracile Shrew Tenrec (Microgale gracilis)
    • Naked-nosed Shrew Tenrec (Microgale gymnorhyncha)
    • Lesser Long-tailed Shrew Tenrec (Microgale longicaudata)
    • Montane Shrew Tenrec (Microgale monticola)
    • Nasolo's Shrew Tenrec (Microgale nasoloi)
    • Pygmy Shrew Tenrec (Microgale parvula)
    • Greater Long-tailed Shrew Tenrec (Microgale principula)
    • Least Shrew Tenrec (Microgale pusilla)
    • Shrew-toothed Shrew Tenrec (Microgale soricoides)
    • Taiva Shrew Tenrec (Microgale taiva)
    • Talazac's Shrew Tenrec (Microgale talazaci)
    • Thomas's Shrew Tenrec (Microgale thomasi)
  • Genus Oryzorictes
    • Mole-like Rice Tenrec (Oryzorictes hova)
    • Four-toed Rice Tenrec (Oryzorictes tetradactylus)
• Subfamily Potamogalinae
  • Genus Micropotamogale
    • Nimba Otter Shrew (Micropotamogale lamottei)
    • Ruwenzori Otter Shrew (Micropotamogale ruwenzorii)
  • Genus Potamogale
    • Giant Otter Shrew (Potamogale velox)
• Subfamily Tenrecinae
  • Genus Echinops
    • Lesser Hedgehog Tenrec or Spiny Tenrec (Echinops telfairi)
  • Genus Hemicentetes
    • Highland Streaked Tenrec (Hemicentetes nigriceps)
    • Lowland Streaked Tenrec (Hemicentetes semispinosus)
  • Genus Setifer
    • Greater Hedgehog Tenrec (Setifer setosus)
  • Genus Tenrec
    • Tail-less Tenrec (Tenrec ecaudatus)

[edit] References

• Bronner, Gary N., Jenkins, Paulina D. (November 16, 2005). Wilson, D. E., and Reeder, D. M. (eds): Mammal Species of the World, 3rd edition, Johns Hopkins University Press, 72-77. ISBN 0-801-88221-4.