Lesser Madagascar Hedgehog Tenrec
Echinops telfairi
Class
Mammalia
Order
Afrosoricida
Family
Tenrecidae
Lesser Madagascar Hedgehog Tenrec
Range
Southern Madagascar
Size
Length: 5.5 - 7 in
Weight: 4 - oz
Habitat
Dry forests, coastal regions, scrub, and semi-desert areas
Young
Litter of 1 - 10 (5 - 7 most common)
Gestation: 61 - 68 days
Diet
Insects, worms, and other inverebrates; occasionally small animals such as baby mice
IUCN Status
Least Concern
Description
Lesser hedgehog tenrecs are covered with spines, which range in color from white to black. Fine hairs cover their paws and bellies, and their tails are barely visible.
Communication
Tenrecs rely primarily on touch and scent to communicate, but they can also make a few sounds. When threatened, they curl into a tight ball to protect their soft bellies or lunge backward, using their spines to defend themselves.
Foraging
Lesser hedgehog tenrecs are opportunistic foragers, hunting for invertebrates on the ground and in trees.