Tailless Tenrec

Tailless Tenrec
Tenrec ecaudatus

They may resemble hedgehogs and echidnas, but tenrecs share common ancestry with elephants, aardvarks and sea cows. Tenrecs are omnivorous, feeding primarily on insects but also plants. They hibernate in dry autumn months (May to September) when food resources are low. Females can have up to 36 young per litter, which is a mammal record!

Distribution: Madagascar and introduced to islands of the Comoros, Rèunion, Mauritius and the Seychelles
Conservation status: Least Concern
Evolutionary distinctiveness: Medium