Tenrecs

The tenrecs are a family of extraordinary mammals—about thirty living species, spanning roughly the same size range as mice and rats but showing their own remarkable spectrum of physiological adaptations. ❋ David Quammen (2004)

The country is home to some 90 types of lemurs as well as a bonanza of other rare and unusual creatures including a puma-like mongoose, spiny hedgehog-like beasts called tenrecs, and absurdly colorful chameleons. ❋ Unknown (2009)

A University Expedition to the island studied forest regeneration, Seychelles fruit bat, tenrecs and black parrot. ❋ Unknown (2008)

Elephant shrews are related to hyraxes and tenrecs, elephants and sea cows, and the aardvark. ❋ TIM DEE (2009)

Tenrecs are not closely related to shrews: the closest relatives of tenrecs are golden moles, elephant shrews, hyraxes and elephants, while the closest relatives of shrews are bats. ❋ Unknown (2009)

The endemic tenrecs, a unique family of insect-eating mammals, occupy the ecological niche that shrews and moles occupy elsewhere. ❋ Unknown (2008)

Other near endemic mammal species living at the middle to upper reaches of eastern mountains include the rice tenrec (Oryzorictes tetradactylus), found only in the south central highlands, highland streaked tenrec (Hemicentetes nigriceps), several shrew-tenrecs (e.g. Microgale gracilis, M. gymnorhyncha, and M. monticola), and a species of tuft-tailed rat (Eliurus majori). ❋ Unknown (2008)

Introduced goats, pigs, and cattle inhibit regeneration of native forest; and introduced cats, dogs, common mynah (Acridotheres tristis), and tenrecs prey upon native species, particularly birds, lizards, caecilians, and invertebrates. ❋ Unknown (2008)

Numerous forms of mammals are considered strictly endemic to this ecoregion, including the Alaotran gentle lemur (Hapalemur griseus aloatrensis), and a number of shrews, tenrecs, and rodents. ❋ Unknown (2007)

So the moa lineage found itself in hospitable conditions for an outbreak of adaptive radiation, parallel to what the tenrecs achieved on Madagascar. ❋ David Quammen (2004)

MADAGASCAR, home of the tenrecs and so many other bizarre species, is an old island. ❋ David Quammen (2004)

The question arises, then, how the tenrecs have survived at all. ❋ David Quammen (2004)

YOU KNOW something about adaptive radiation because you know something about the tenrecs of Madagascar, yes? ❋ David Quammen (2004)

P.J. intends to spend two years in Madagascar, busting apart more pieces of rotting wood, collecting more tenrecs, studying the peculiarities of their physiology. ❋ David Quammen (2004)

The other genera include tenrecs that resemble moles, tenrecs that resemble hedgehogs or, to an American eye, miniature porcupines, and an elusive aquatic tenrec named Limnogale mergulus, which lives the life of a small river otter. ❋ David Quammen (2004)

No matter that he had never reached Madagascar or studied tenrecs. ❋ David Quammen (2004)

Madagascar, being old and remote, shows radical disharmony from eastern Africa, and not just among lemurs and tenrecs. ❋ David Quammen (2004)

The Insectivora are sometimes considered to be among the most primitive mammals surviving today, and the tenrecs to be the most primitive of the Insectivora. ❋ David Quammen (2004)

Although “primitive” is an invidious word that raises objections from some biologists, the intended point is that tenrecs preserve certain traits that have been dispensed with by other mammal groups in the course of evolution. ❋ David Quammen (2004)

That tenrec [looks like] a [spiky] [mole] to me. ❋ Tails (2004)