Lesser Hedgehog Tenrec

Lesser Hedgehog Tenrec[1]
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Afrosoricida
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 Tenrecidae family.

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

Contents

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. Weight is about 7 ounces.

Behavior

This tenrec is both terrestrial and arboreal.

Shelter and hibernation

It spends its daytime hours resting under a log 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. It hibernates in the winter time.

Diet

They feed upon, as to an insectivore, insects, but sometimes other small invertebrates as well as small vertebrates, and usually forage alone, except for a mother with her young.

Reproduction

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 gestation period lasts 62 to 65 days. The female then gives birth to averagely 7 babies (1-10). The young are weaned at 18 to 22 days of age.

References

Simon and Schuster's Guide to Mammals

  1. ^ a b Bronner, Gary N.; Jenkins, Paulina D. (16 November 2005). "Order Afrosoricida (pp. 71-81)". In Wilson, Don E., and Reeder, DeeAnn M., eds. Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2 vols. (2142 pp.). pp. 76. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494. http://www.bucknell.edu/msw3. 
  2. ^ a b Afrotheria Specialist Group (Tenrec Section), Olson, L. & Goodman, S. (2008). Echinops telfairi. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 29 December 2008.

Further reading