What is "tenrec"

Tendrac \Ten"drac\, n. [See Tenrec.] (Zo["o]l.) Any one of several species of small insectivores of the family Centetid[ae], belonging to Ericulus, Echinope, and related genera, native of Madagascar. They are more or less spinose and resemble the hedgehog in habits. The rice tendrac ( Oryzorictes hora) is very injurious to rice crops. Some of the species are called also tenrec.

n. Any of several diverse small mammals, of the family Tenrecidae, many native to Madagascar.

n. small often spiny insectivorous mammal of Madagascar; resembles a hedgehog [syn: tendrac]

A tenrec is any species of mammal within the family Tenrecidae, found on Madagascar and in parts of the African mainland. Tenrecs are widely diverse; as a result of convergent evolution they resemble hedgehogs, shrews, opossums, mice and even otters. They occupy aquatic, arboreal, terrestrial and fossorial environments. Some of these species, including the greater hedgehog tenrec, can be found in the Madagascar dry deciduous forests.

1. redirect tailless tenrec

Category:Monotypic mammal genera