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| SCIENTIFIC
CLASSIFICATION |
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| COMMON
NAME: |
Madagascar
tenrec, Madagascar hedgehog |
| KINGDOM: |
Animalia |
| PHYLUM: |
Chordata |
| CLASS: |
Mammalia |
| ORDER: |
Insectivora |
| FAMILY: |
Tenrecidae |
| GENUS
SPECIES: |
Setifer
setosus |
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| DESCRIPTION: |
A
tenrec's coat is made up of thick, stiff hairs that
look very much like spines or quills. Its belly
is covered with short, soft fur. |
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| SIZE: |
Head
& body length: approximately 15-20 cm (6-8 in.)
Tail
length: approximately 1.5-1.6 cm (0.6 in.) |
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| WEIGHT: |
Approximately
500 g (1.1 lb.) |
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| DIET: |
Insectivore;
feeds primarily on insects. Also observed scavenging
carrion or at garbage dumps. |
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| GESTATION: |
Approximately 51-69 days (tends to be in the shorter
end of the range at higher ambient temperatures).
Gives birth to 3 young on average. |
| NURSING
DURATION |
After
15-30 days (wean) |
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| SEXUAL
MATURITY: |
Approximately
6 months |
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| LIFE
SPAN: |
Maximum
of about 10 years |
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| HABITAT: |
Found
in dry, sandy regions |
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| POPULATION: |
GLOBAL |
Unknown |
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| STATUS: |
IUCN |
Lower Risk/least concern |
| CITES |
Not
listed |
| USFWS |
Not
listed |
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| 1. |
Tenrecs are nocturnal and quite shy. |
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| 2. |
They spend their time foraging for insects and vegetation
or sleeping in an underground burrow. |
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| 3. |
When scared, tenrecs curl up in a ball with their
spines erect to protect them from predators. |
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| Tenrecs
are useful to humans because they consume large
quantities of insects and small invertebrates. |
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|
|
Nowak, Ronald M. (ed.). Walker's Mammals of the
World. Vol. I. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University
Press, 1999. |
|
|
Parker, S. (ed.). Grizmek's Encyclopedia of Mammals.
Vol. IV. New York: McGraw-Hill Publishing Co.,
1990. |
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