Family: Tenrecidae.
Status: No special status.
Size: Length 11 to 15 in., weight 2 to 5 lbs.
Diet: Omnivore.
Characteristics: Solitary, nocturnal.
Area: Madagascar, the Comoro Islands.
Offspring: A yearly litter of up to 32.
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The common tenrec (Tenrec
ecaudatus) is one of the largest living insectivores.
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About 30
species of tenrecs are found in Madagascar and the Comoro Islands.
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Tenrecs are also known as tendrecs or tanrecs.
Tenrecs tend to keep to themselves and live in burrows. They have long snouts that enable them to root out insects and worms to eat. They also eat fruit and small animals. They usually sleep in their burrows or under a rock during the heat of the day, coming out at night to search for food. They’re adept rock climbers, and swimmers, but rarely climb up into trees. Tenrecs have a variety of sounds, including hisses, squeals and squeaks, and can even make sound by rubbing the bristles on its back together. During the cold season, tenrecs hibernate in their burrows.
The common tenrec lives on Madagascar as well as the smaller Comoro Islands, off the coast of Africa. It has also been introduced on the islands of Reunion, Mauritius, and the Seychelles. Tenrecs usually live in forested areas, near water.
The only time tenrecs can be found together is during the mating season, from October to November. Gestation is approximately two months, with offspring born in December or January. Tenrecs are known for their large litter sizes—as high as 32, making them one of the most prolific mammals. The average litter size, however, ranges from 10 to 20. The young tenrecs are born with their eyes closed. Within the first two weeks, the eyes open and by three weeks, they begin to follow their mother as she forages. At four weeks, they can eat solid food. Sometime in their second month, the young tenrecs leave the nest. The lifespan of a tenrec is up to 6 years in captivity.