Lowland streaked tenrec

A little mammal covered in quills

The lowland streaked tenrec is a small, curious mammal endemic to Madagascar. Its body is covered with a mix of hairs, bristles and quills, arranged to form a striking pattern of black and yellow stripes that makes it unmistakable. It has an elongated, pointed snout, suited to rooting through the ground. Although its appearance vaguely recalls that of a small hedgehog, the tenrec belongs to a group of mammals all its own, typical of Madagascar and Africa.

Habitat and distribution

It lives in the lowland and mid-mountain rainforests of the north and east of Madagascar, but it also adapts to open landscapes and environments altered by humans. It is a ground-dwelling animal, which digs in the soil in search of food and makes burrows and hiding places there.

Communicating with quills

The most extraordinary feature of the streaked tenrec is the way it communicates. On its back, towards the rear, it has a group of particularly sturdy quills forming a stridulation organ: by rubbing them together, the animal produces vibrating, buzzing sounds, partly at ultrasonic frequencies. It is the only known mammal to communicate in this way, a technique otherwise typical of insects such as cicadas. These signals help individuals, particularly mothers and young, to stay in contact in the thick vegetation.

Feeding and defence

It feeds above all on earthworms and other small invertebrates, which it catches by digging with its snout and paws. To defend itself from predators, it can raise the quills of its neck and back, which lodge easily in the skin of the aggressor. It is classified as a species of least concern, with still widespread populations.